Frequently Asked Questions
What does "gender dysphoria" mean?
Gender dysphoria is the clinical term for the distress a person feels when their gender identity doesn't match the sex they were assigned at birth. It's the current term used in the DSM-5 (the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual), replacing the earlier term "gender identity disorder." Not everyone who identifies as transgender experiences dysphoria, and dysphoria can vary widely in intensity from person to person. For more on the science behind gender dysphoria, see our Etiology, Treatment, & Outcomes page.
What's the difference between sex and gender identity?
Sex usually refers to a person's biological characteristics — chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy — typically assigned at birth as male or female. Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with that assigned sex. When the two don't align, a person may identify as transgender. Christians hold a range of views on how to understand this distinction theologically — see I'm Clergy or a Church Member for more on that discussion.
What does "transgender" mean?
Transgender is a general term for someone whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. It's an umbrella term — it doesn't describe a single experience, medical status, or set of steps someone has or hasn't taken.
Is being transgender the same as being gay?
No. Gender identity (who you are) and sexual orientation (who you're attracted to) are different things. A transgender person can be straight, gay, bisexual, or any other orientation, just as a non-transgender person can.
What's the difference between social and medical transition?
Social transition refers to non-medical changes — a new name, pronouns, clothing, or hairstyle. Medical transition refers to hormone therapy or surgery. Not every transgender person pursues medical transition, and the two don't have to happen together or in any particular order. Current standards of care generally recommend social transition — a reversible step — well before considering any medical intervention, especially for minors.
What causes someone to have a transgender identity?
Current research points to a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors, without a single settled explanation. This remains an active area of study — see our Etiology, Treatment, & Outcomes page for a fuller review of the research.
Can someone be both a Christian and transgender?
Christians and Christian denominations hold a range of views on this question, and the Regeneration Resource Center doesn't take a single official position. What's clear is that many transgender people are practicing Christians for whom faith is central to their identity. See I'm Clergy or a Church Member for a fuller look at how different Christian traditions have approached this question.
What is "ambiguous loss," and why does it come up so often on this site?
Ambiguous loss is grief without closure — a loss that doesn't have a clear ending point, like a funeral, to mark it. Many family members of a transgender loved one describe their experience this way: the relationship feels like it's changing, but nothing has technically "ended." Understanding this concept has helped many families make sense of feelings they didn't have words for. Read more on our Resources for Families page.
My family member just told me they're transgender. Where should I start?
Start with our I Just Found Out page — it's written specifically for people in the first days or weeks after finding out, before you're ready for deeper research or planning.