The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to transgender topics.
The term "transgender" is multi-faceted and complex, especially where consensual and precise definitions have not yet been reached. While often the best way to find out how people identify themselves is to ask them, not all persons who might be thought of as falling under the transgender 'umbrella' identify as such.[1] Transgender can also be distinguished from intersex, a term for people born with physical sex characteristics "that do not fit typical binary notions of maleorfemale bodies".[2]
Books and articles written about transgender people or culture are often outdated by the time they are published, if not already outdated at the time of composition, due to inappropriate and/or outdated questions or premises.[3] Psychology, medicine, and social sciences research, aid, or otherwise interact with or study transgender people. Each field starts from a different point of view, offers different perspectives, and uses different nomenclature. This difference is mirrored by the attitude of transgender people regarding transgender issues, which can be seen in the articles listed below.[4]
Sexual orientation and behaviour are independent from gender identity; since both are often mentioned together or even confused, some relevant topics are mentioned here. The first article elaborates on this question.
Transgender art and artists include:
Many other terms describe gender-variant people or behaviour, without the people being described necessarily being transgender: