Identity
Identity is a complicated topic. Whether you're trying to better understand your own identity, or know your identity but feel lost or alone, it can be hard to navigate on your own. These resources are here to guide you and help you further understand your experiences, and provide advice and support for marginalized identities.
Questioning Your Gender
Questioning your gender is a process many people go through. It can be confusing, scary, and difficult. But it can also lead you to important realizations about yourself and how you wish to live your life. The resources below will help you in this process, and provide many different perspectives on transgender experiences.
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For Those Questioning Their Gender Identity and/or Sexuality
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General Advice for Figuring Out Your Gender Identity and Transition Path
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Transgender
Transgender refers to individuals who identify as a gender other than the gender/sex they were assigned at birth. These resources are for transgender people both within and outside the binary. For more detailed resources regarding transitioning, please visit the Transitioning section. For resources specific to nonbinary people, see the section below this one! The resources in the Questioning Your Gender section may also be useful.
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Nonbinary
Nonbinary individuals have genders that fall outside the male/female binary, and are considered under the transgender umbrella. This includes individuals whose identities are only partly male or female, or go between the two, as well as those completely different from male or female, or those with no gender at all! These resources are for all individuals who don't fit into the male/female binary. The resources in Questioning Your Gender may also be useful.
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Intersex
Intersex refers to people whose reproductive or sexual anatomy does not match society's definitions of "normal" reproductive or sexual anatomy that can easily be classed as "male" or "female" based on society's rules. Many intersex people are unaware of their intersex status, and yet others have been medically mistreated in an attempt to "normalize" them.
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Questioning Your Sexual/Romantic Orientation
Most people question their sexuality/romantic orientation at some point in their life. It's not always easy, but it is an important part of forming your identity. These resources will help you on your journey no matter where it takes you.
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Advocates For Youth
Gay/Lesbian
Gay and lesbian people are attracted to others of their same or similar gender. Though gay commonly refers to men, it can be used by people of any gender, but lesbian is an identity reserved for women and feminine-identified individiuals. These resources are for anyone who experiences same gender attractions. The resources in the Questioning Your Sexuality may also be useful.
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Multi
People with multi-gender attractions fall under a number of umbrellas. Bisexual or biromantic people are attracted to two or more genders, but not necessarily all genders. Pansexual or panromantic people are attracted to all genders, or may not factor gender into their attractions. Polysexual and polyromantic people are attracted to two or more genders, but usually not all genders (this is different from polyamory, which refers to being attracted to and in relationships with multiple people at once). These resources are for all people who experience attraction to more than one gender. The resources in Questioning Your Sexuality may also be useful.
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Aro/Ace Spectrum
The aro/ace or aromantic/asexual spectrum refers to a multitude of sexual identities. Asexual people do not experience sexual attraction; demisexual people only experience sexual attraction after forming strong emotional connections; and graysexual people have very limited experiences with sexual attraction, or may be unsure in their sexual identity. However, any of the above can experience romantic attraction. On the flipside, aromantic people do not experience romantic attraction; demiromantic people only experience romantic attraction after a strong emotional connection has been formed; and greyromantic people have very limited experiences with romantic attraction, or may be unsure in their romantic identity. However, aromantic, demiromantic, and greyromantic people may still experience sexual attraction. These resources are for all people on the aro/ace spectrum.
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