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What it Means to Be Transgender
A transgender person is a person whose inner sense of being male or female and/or their gender expression (their behavior, clothing, haircut, voice, and body characteristics) differ from the gender assigned to them at birth. While Angie Zapata was born male, she always felt herself to be female.
Some transgender individuals express their sense of gender in their dress, mannerisms, and social roles. Other may require hormonal or surgical procedures to bring their bodies into better congruence with their gender identities. In either case, gender identity as experienced by the individual is the key. While many people confuse transgender and gay people, it is important to note that being transgender does not imply any specific form of sexual orientation; transgender people may be attracted to men, women, both or neither.
Because transgender people do not conform to society’s expectations for how men and women should dress and act, they are often harassed and discriminated against. They face a multitude of obstacles in daily life including safety and physical security concerns, employment discrimination, legal obstacles, and lack of access to important health care.