LGBTQ+ culture is living and adaptive. Terms like "transsexual" (older, sometimes considered clinical) and "tr*nny" (a violent slur) are distinct. When in doubt, use the term a person uses for themselves. Common respectful terms today: transgender, trans, non-binary, gender-expansive, gender-nonconforming.

The transgender community is currently leading the most significant cultural conversation of the 21st century: the decoupling of biology from destiny. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha embrace gender fluidity at record rates, the "transgender experience" is becoming less of a niche subculture and more of a blueprint for how everyone—queer or straight—can live more authentically.

Non-binary identities exist across and outside this spectrum.

The transgender community is an incredibly diverse group of people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.