: A person's deep-seated, internal sense of being a man, woman, neither, or both. This identity is not visible to others.

Despite growing visibility, the community faces significant hurdles:

: Transgender individuals, particularly people of color, experience disproportionately high rates of violence, poverty, and discrimination in housing and employment.

: Many face barriers to receiving gender-affirming and general medical care due to lack of provider knowledge or financial constraints. Cultural Competence in the Care of LGBTQ Patients - NCBI

: Use resources from organizations like GLAAD , The Trevor Project , and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to learn more without placing the burden of education on transgender people.

: Never "out" someone by sharing their transgender status without their explicit permission.

Understanding the transgender community and broader LGBTQ+ culture involves recognizing the diversity of identities and the specific language used to describe them. The LGBTQ+ acronym stands for , with the "+" representing additional identities like intersex, asexual, and pansexual. Key Concepts and Definitions

: Always use the name and pronouns a person has requested. If you are unsure, it is okay to ask politely.