The transgender community, often referred to as trans, refers to individuals whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans individuals may identify as male, female, or non-binary, and may or may not choose to undergo medical transition (e.g., hormone replacement therapy, surgery).
The transgender community has been the primary driver of the most significant linguistic shift in LGBTQ culture in a generation: the normalization of pronoun sharing and the singular “they.” While some gay and lesbian spaces were initially resistant to the perceived complexity of neopronouns (ze/zir, etc.) or the grammatical shift to “they/them,” the broader culture has increasingly adopted trans-informed language as a baseline of respect. Today, introducing oneself with pronouns is a hallmark of inclusive LGBTQ events, a practice pioneered by trans and non-binary activists.