LGBT means diversity

T for Transgender

As said before, a trans person is a person that does not feel in accordance with the gender they were assigned at birth.

With the term "trans" comes two other important terms: AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth) and AMAB (Assigned Male At Birth). These have to do with genitalia and DNA but absolutely do not define gender and sexuality.

Genitalia =/= Gender.

You might also come across the terms/adjectives FtM (Female to Male) and MtF (Male to Female) sometimes used as words alone instead of saying trans man/trans woman.

Another term you can encounter is "transsexual". This is an out-dated term, mostly used in the medical field to describe transgender people who have fully transitioned through the process of getting hormones and surgery (+ full social transition). This term tends to disappear as every transsexual is transgender but not every transgender is transsexual.

Indeed, some trans people do not wish to transition. They either don't experience dysphoria (see chapter "Dysphoria") or don't want to undergo bottom surgery (the act of changing your sexual organs).

Note that, even with the financial help the government might give, transitioning surgeries are extremely expensive and the recovery is long and very painful. Some people just can't afford these surgeries and/or don't feel strong enough to go through the whole process of permanent physical transition. They are not any less transgender and valid.

Moreover, unlike what it has long been believed, being part of the LGBTQA+ and especially being transgender is not a disease or a psychological disorder. However, the gender dysphoria a lot of trans people experience can be described by some as a mental disorder but not illness as it can't be treated in any other way than transitioning.

Transgender people are also not drag queens/drag kings. However, some trans people like doing drag (but so do some cis people). Being a drag queen/king is a hobby, or even a job, not a gender. Trans people are not playing: they're real and valid.

And, as trans means "not identifying as the gender were assigned at birth" a lot of people consider non-binary people to be trans, hence the white stripe on the trans flag (see chapter "Non-binary genders"). But not all non-binary people want to be called/feel trans. But, if you are trans, please don't exclude non-binary people from your group or that means your are a "truscum" (also see chapters "Non-binary genders" and "Dysphoria").

Finally, note that one's sexual orientation can evolve as they transition from a gender to another one (binary or not). It is not uncomon that a person goes through the following process:
- I am straight
- I am gay
(- I am pansexual)
- I am transgender and straight
- I am gay but regarding my new gender

Transgender people are not people trying to hide their homosexuality and/or trying to change to attract people from their birth opppsite gender. Please, never ever say to a gay trans person "So... You're basically straight then ?" NO !