Many transgender people live according to their gender identity – including how they dress, and their chosen name and pronouns. Some may take hormone medication, or have surgery. People can also apply to alter their birth certificate, passport and driving licence. These social, physical and legal changes are known as transitioning. These same statistics also show better mental health outcomes for those who are able to transition, as well as those who engage with transgender communities.
Choosing a new name that better suits one’s gender identity is common, too. Some transgender people, though not all, elect to undergo medical treatments that change their bodies to make them more compatible with their gender identity. Treatments can include hormone therapy, surgery, and other interventions. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, there are about 1.4 million transgender people in the United States, who fall into several categories. A transgender woman was labeled as male at birth but has the gender identity of a female. A transgender man was assigned female sex at birth but identifies as male. Some transgender people don’t identify with one gender exclusively.
