Glossary

Gender-fluid

This terms generally describes a gender identity which isn’t fixed and can change through time. For example, a gender-fluid person could fluctuate between moments or eras where they feel more masculine, or more feminine, or maybe sometimes identify with other identities.

Desistance

This term is employed when someone no longer identifies as transgender or doesn’t feel gender dysphoria anymore, usually without having initiated any gender-affirming treatment. This term derived from criminology was first used in the context of clinical studies with pre-adolescents who were brought to clinic because they were either gender non-conforming or meeting criteria for gender dysphoria before it faded during puberty. Some people in the detrans community label themselves as desisters often because they didn’t medically transition but some do still identify as gender diverse or gender non-conforming.

Detrans

An umbrella term used by some individuals who have discontinued their transition. The term “detrans” is rarely seen as an identity in itself, but is mostly used to describe a physical and social process. Some people use detrans alongside other identity markers such as detrans woman, detrans lesbian, detrans male, detrans non-binary. All of these labels are self-applied and should not be used to designate someone without their approval or unless they use it themselves.

Detransitioning

The process of discontinuing or reversing a gender transition, often because the person had a shift in the way they identify or conceptualise their sex, gender, or sexuality since they started their transition. For example, someone started a masculinizing hormone therapy and planned to have a top-surgery/mastectomy. After several years, they realizee they don’t feel comfortable as a man, and start identifing as a non-binary butch lesbian. They decide to stop taking testosterone and are unsure about surgery.

Re-identifying

Re-identifying is a term used to describe a change in how an individual perceives their sex, gender, or sexuality, often involving a shift from one identity to another. This can happen when someone, after affirming a transgender identity and undergoing a gender transition, goes on to re-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, or a different gender identity than held previously. Such changes in identity can occur as people explore, gain life experiences, and better understand themselves.

Retransition

The process of resuming a gender transition after previously detransitioning. For some detransitioners, this term may imply using hormone therapy for medical purposes, without necessarily re-identifying as transgender. For others, it may signify re-identifying themselves differently from their initial gender transition, such as transitioning from a binary transgender identity to a nonbinary one. Some individuals choose to use the term retransition to describe their experience of detransitioning, in response to the stigmatization and politicization associated with the word detransition.

Non-binary

An umbrella term employed to designate one’s identity that goes beyond the gender binary. A non-binary person could situate their identity anywhere on the gender spectrum. For example, non-binary people could describe their identity as a mix of masculine and feminine, or neither, or something different. Non-binary identities can take an infinite number of forms and gender expressions.

Questioning

Questioning refers to the process of reflecting on and re-evaluating one’s gender identity. This introspection can take place not only before embarking on a gender transition but also after undergoing social, legal, and/or medical/surgical changes related to transition. Before detransitioning, individuals may experience feelings of regret about their decision to transition and may start questioning.

Transgender

An all-encompassing term that includes individuals whose gender identity differs from the one assigned to them at birth. Within the transgender community, people may identify with a binary gender, such as a trans woman or a trans man, or embrace identities between and beyond the gender binary, such as nonbinary, genderfluid, or genderqueer. Unfortunately, some transgender individuals are forced to choose to detransition in response to stigma, societal pressures, or discrimination they face, particularly within their families or in employment settings.

Detrans Support was produced by project team members Kinnon R. MacKinnon, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Hannah Kia, June H.S. Lam, Lori E. Ross, Mélanie Millette, Florence A. Paré, Wren A. Gould, Olivier Turbide, Morgane Gelly is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0