The term cisgender is not indicative of gender expression, sexual orientation, hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how one is perceived in daily life.” Where did the term cisgender come from?Īccording to research from McGill University, specifically Science Communicator Jonathan Jarry, the prefix “cis” has roots that date back far earlier than the past couple of years. If you’re looking for a specific definition, the Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER) sets up a great answer to “what does cisgender mean?” “ term for someone who exclusively identifies as their sex assigned at birth. And don’t confuse them with gender identities-that’s a completely different realm. Instead of thinking of these two identities as opposites, consider them complements. To break it down further, transgender refers to someone who identifies as a sex they were not assigned at birth, cisgender describes someone who choses to identify as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Yes, it stands for trans, but while L (lesbian), G (gay), and B ( bisexual) are tied to sexual identities, T (trans) refers to a gender identity. The gender identity conversation falls under the “T” in LGBT. This one is simple, so let’s get it out of the way first: “cis” (pronounced sis) is short for “cisgender.” What does it mean to be cisgender? We’re here to save you some research and shed some light on all of these terms. You may also hear “cishet” instead of cisgender, as well as “comphet” used in the same conversation.

“Cisgender” is a term that is often interchanged with “straight,” but they’re not a one-to-one exchange (more on that later). But it can get confusing and we should all strive to have a clear understanding of the various identities and what they mean. There are so many ways to express your sexuality, and that’s something to truly celebrate.

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