Transgender

An umbrella term that can be used to describe people whose gender expression is nonconforming and/or whose gender identity is different from their birth assigned gender. This can range from simply self-identification to undergoing hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgery and/or to other forms of dress/presentation. Transgender people can include all those who defy what society tells them is appropriate for their "gender".

Transsexual

A term most commonly used to refer to someone who surgically transitions from one gender to another. Although this term is still used today, usually the term Transgender is more acceptable.

Genderqueer

A term used to describe a person who does not identify as completely male or female. Genderqueer people may or may not identify as transgender.

Gender Non-Conforming

A term used to describe a person who is, or is perceived to have, gender characteristics and/or behaviors and/or gender expression that do not conform to traditional or societal expectations.

Androgynous

A term used to describe a person who expresses or presents merged socially-defined masculine and feminine characteristics, or mainly neutral characteristics.

Intersex

Refers to a series of medical conditions in which a child's sex (chromosomes) and phenotypic sex (genital appearance) do not match, or are somehow different from the 'standard' of male or female. About one in 2,000 babies are born visibly intersex, while some others are detected later. More info: http://www.intersexinitiative.org

Cisgender

A term used to describe someone whose gender identity matches up with the gender that they were assigned at birth.

Gender Binary System

A social system that requires everyone to be raised as a boy or a girl (assigned gender at birth depending on biological sex) which in turn forms the basis for how you are expected to behave, wear, look like, feel like, act like, and who you should be attracted to/love/marry etc.