Being transgender refers to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with their birth sex. Some medical theories suggest there is a genetic component causing the brain and body to develop differently in the womb. About 0.7% of teens in the US identify as transgender, and transgender individuals face higher rates of suicide and homicide - particularly transgender women and transgender women of color. The document provides strategies for exploring and expressing one's gender identity, as well as resources for support groups.

1. Transgenders
SHELBI BAUER

2. What is being transgender?
 Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal
identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.
 According to medical theory being transgender is a genetic
component that doesn't form correctly during the
early stages of pregnancy. This means while in the womb the
baby forms a different body than brain, or vise versa.

3. Statistics
 There is about 1.4 million people who identify as transgender across the
Untied States
 About 0.7 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds living in the United
States identify as transgender
 42 percent of teens who identify as transgender have had
thoughts of suicide
 55% of all reported LGBT homicide victims were transgender
women, and 50% were transgender women of color.
 20% of respondents reporting that they were evicted or denied
housing simply for being transgender

4. Symptoms and Behaviors
 Ask yourself why you are curious. If it's persistent discomfort
with your assigned gender, or attraction to the image of
yourself as a different gender, you may be transgender.
 Consider the possibility that your gender is nonbinary: if you
don't feel like you are exactly a man or a woman, you could be
something else.
 If you feel comfortable with your assigned gender but you
notice yourself acting out of step with other cisgender people,
that doesn't necessarily mean you're transgender. You could
just be a feminine man, or a masculine woman.

5. Strategies
 Find a gender therapist
 Explore the internet
 Dress to express yourself
 Ask questions
 Acknowledge being curious

6. Activity
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5n9YW4MVk

7. Support groups
 National Center for Transgender Equality
 1325 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 202-903-0112
202-393-2241 (fax) www.nctequality.org

8. Work cited
 http://www.belongto.org/group.aspx?contentid=2918
 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/transgender-what-it-
means#1
 http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.aspx