MANILA, Philippines – With the death of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, 26, INQUIRER.net sought to straighten out for its readers the definition of a transgender as opposed to other terms that may be associated with it such as a transsexual or a transvestite.

Here’s what we’ve got:

Transgender

It is an umbrella term which characterizes the gender identity of individuals who want to “deviate” from their sex at birth.

Transgenders can refer to themselves as “transsexuals”.

Transsexual

“Transsexual” is a medical term in which medical intervention is sought by people who want to undergo a sex change.

A transsexual, however, is not a “catch-all” term for transgender as some transgenders don’t consider themselves transsexuals.

A “transsexual” can be described as a “transsexual man” or “transsexual woman”.

Transvestite

The term “transvestite” refers to cross-dressers although it is considered “outdated” or “derogatory”.

In fact, the term “transvestite” should not be used at all, unless someone specifically wants to be identified in that way.

“Cross-dresser” is a better term to use.

Cross-dressers can both be applied to men and women but is typically attributed to heterosexual men who occasionally wear clothes and accessories for women.

Dressing up as a woman is a form of self-expression and should not be relegated solely for entertainment purposes.

Cross-dressers may not permanently want to live as a woman.

Source: Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) website, Medical Daily, UN documents

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