Transgender individuals are not physically born transgender in terms of their biological sex. Rather, transgender individuals are born with a gender identity that does not align with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Gender identity refers to one’s internal, deeply held sense of one’s gender. Most people have a gender identity of being a man or a woman (or boy or girl). For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of those two choices. Unlike gender expression (see below) gender identity is not visible to others.

At birth, infants are assigned a sex based on physical characteristics, such as genitalia. This assigned sex (male or female) typically aligns with an individual’s gender identity. However, for transgender individuals, there’s a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity. For instance, a person may be born with female anatomy, and thus is assigned female at birth, but identifies as male.

The exact cause of why someone is transgender is still scientifically unknown. It’s likely a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. It’s important to note that being transgender is not a choice or a decision, but rather a deeply held aspect of one’s identity.

Support and understanding from family, friends, and community is very important for transgender people, especially as they begin to express their identified gender and possibly take steps to transition. The process can be challenging, and having support can greatly improve a transgender person’s mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being.