What questions should you not ask someone who is transgender?

Accept that if someone tells you they are transgender, they are. Don’t ask about a transgender person’s genitals, surgical status, or sex life. It would be inappropriate to ask a non-transgender, or cisgender, person about the appearance or status of their genitals. It is equally inappropriate to ask a transgender person those questions.

Can you look around a room and see if there’s any trans people?

Many transgender people do not appear “visibly trans,” meaning they are not perceived to be transgender by others. It is not possible to look around a room and “see” if there are any transgender people. (It would be like a person looking around the room to “see” if there are any gay people.)

Do transgender people feel comfortable disclosing their gender history?

Some transgender people feel comfortable disclosing their gender history, and some do not. A transgender person’s gender history is personal information and it is up to them to share it with others. Do not casually share this information, speculate, or gossip about a person you know or think is transgender.

Why does it take so long for transgender people to transition?

This is still a problem for most people progressing with transgender transition as the wait can be very long; sometime due to financial problems, long waiting lists, or family pressures which cause us to become depressed, withdrawn, and anxious which are symptoms of gender dysphoria.

Is there a right way to deal with transgender people?

This means that different members of the transgender community have different needs and priorities. Similarly, there is no one right way to handle every situation, or interact with every trans person. Be respectful, do your best, and keep trying. You don’t have to understand someone’s identity to respect it.