Trans man

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Not to be confused with Transhuman.

A trans man (also trans-man or transman) is a female-to-male (FtM or FTM) transgender or transsexual person. A trans man is an individual who is assigned female at birth, but has a masculine or male gender identity. Many trans men choose to undergo surgical and/or hormonal transition to alter their appearance in a way that reflects them more appropriately.

The term transgender is not always synonymous with transsexual, although the two labels are often used this way. Transgender is an umbrella term that includes different types of gender variant people (including transsexual people). Being transgender is independent of sexual orientation. A trans man may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, gay, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, asexual, demisexual, etc., and some trans men consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them.

In the United States, the ratio of trans men within the general population is unclear, but estimates range between 1:2,000 and 1:100,000.[1][2][3]


Thomas Beatie at Stockholm Pride 2011, known in the media as the Pregnant Man, is a trans man who gave birth to 3 children
Lucas Silveira, lead singer/guitarist of The Cliks.

The term "trans man" is used as a short form for either identity (transsexual man and transgender man).[4] Trans men may identify as transsexual, as transgender, neither, or both.[5] "Transgender man" is an umbrella term that may include anybody who was assigned female at birth (called afab), but identifies as male. For instance, some androgynous, bigender, and genderqueer people might identify as transgender.[4] Because "transgender" is an umbrella term, it is imprecise and does not adequately describe specific identities and experiences.[6]

The term "transsexual" originated in the medical and psychological communities. However, unlike the term transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term, and many transgender people do not identify as such. Transsexual is a term for afab people who feel their sex organs didn't reflect their gender and have chosen to change some aspect of their body. It is generally considered to be an outdated term.[5][not specific enough to verify][7][not specific enough to verify]

The FTM community has coined the phrase transfag to describe a trans man attracted to other men.[8] However, this phrase is still controversial because of its previous usage as a derogatory slur directed towards trans women.


Buck Angel, a female-to-male (FTM) transsexual, adult film producer.

Originally, the term "trans men" referred specifically to female-to-male transsexual people who underwent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or surgery. In recent years, the definition of "transition" has broadened to include theories of psychological development or complementary methods of self-acceptance.[9][10]

Transsexual men may seek medical interventions such as hormones and surgery to make their bodies as congruent as possible with their gender presentation. However, many transgender and transsexual men cannot afford or choose not to undergo surgery or hormone replacement therapy.

Many who have not undergone top surgery choose to bind their breasts. There are a few different methods of binding, including using sports bras and specially made binders (which can be vest-type, or wrap-around style). Tape or bandages, although often depicted in popular culture, should never be used for binding as they tighten with wear and compress the ribcage, and could result in injury.

Some trans men might also decide to pack, to create a male like bulge in the crotch of clothing. However, this is not universal. Trans men who decide to pack may use anything from rolled up socks to specially made packers, which resemble a penis. Some packers are also created for trans men to be able to urinate through them (stand-to-pee, or STP, devices).

Transitioning might involve some or all of the following steps:[11]

  • Social transition: name change, wearing clothing seen as gender appropriate, disclosure to family, friends and usually at the workplace
  • Sex reassignment therapy: hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and/or surgery
  • Legal affirmation: name and (sometimes) sex marker correction in legal identification documents.[12][13] Being socially accepted as male (sometimes known as passing) may be challenging for trans men who have not undergone HRT and/or surgery.[12][13] Some trans men may choose to present as female in certain social situations (e.g. at work).[12][13] After physical transition, trans men usually live full-time as male.[12][13]

Notable trans men[edit]


See also[edit]


  1. ^ "How Frequently Does Transsexualism Occur?" by Lynn Conway
  2. ^ "There are more of us than you think" by Joanne Herman
  3. ^ The Alliance of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgendered and Straight Ally Students, FAQ - Transgenderism
  4. ^ a b Answers to Your Questions About Transgender Individuals and Gender Identity
  5. ^ a b Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "GLAAD Media Reference Guide, 8th Edition. Transgender Glossary of Terms", GLAAD, USA, May 2010. Retrieved on 2011-03-04.
  6. ^ Hudson's FTM Resource Guide,FTM Basics: Terminology
  7. ^ LAMBDA Glossary
  8. ^ "transfag". Urban Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  9. ^ Hudson's FTM Resource Guide, FTM Basics: Terminology
  10. ^ Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation, Glossary of Terms and Usage
  11. ^ "What is transition?" FTM Australia
  12. ^ a b c d Transgender emergence: therapeutic guidelines for working with gender-variant people and their families (2004), Arlene Istar Lev, Routledge, ISBN 0-7890-2117-X, 9780789021175.
  14. ^ [1]
  15. ^ "Does Gender Matter? by Ben A Barres". Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  16. ^ Wilson, Cintra (2011-05-06). "Chaz Bono, Reluctant Role Model". The New York Times. 
  17. ^ Cameron, Loren (1996). Body Alchemy. Cleis Press. ISBN 1-57344-062-0. 
  18. ^ "Ryan Cassata". Ryan Cassata. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  19. ^ Web Easy Professional Avanquest Publishing USA, Inc. (2013-03-01). "Home". Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  20. ^ "History of Rap Music". KatastropheRap. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  21. ^ Andreas Krieger profile,; accessed December 9, 2014.
  22. ^ (2013-01-18). "FTM: Scouting the Unknown". Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  23. ^ Middlebrook, Diane Wood (1999). Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton. Mariner Books. ISBN 978-0-395-95789-9. 
  24. ^ "dellagracevolcano". Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  25. ^ [2]
  26. ^ Valerio, Max Wolf (2006). The Testosterone Files. Seal Press. ISBN 978-1-58005-173-6. 
  27. ^
  28. ^ "Gender Rebel". Discovery Health. 2006. 
  29. ^ "Mom, I Didn't Kill Your Daughter". San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. 2008. 
  30. ^
  31. ^
  32. ^ "Pregnant Man". September Films. 2008. 
  33. ^
  34. ^

External links[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Becoming a Visible Man by Jamison Green
  • Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guide to the Transsexual Experience by Matt Kailey
  • Transmen and FTMs: Identities, Bodies, Genders, and Sexualities by Jason Cromwell
  • FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society. by Aaron H. Devor
  • Second Son: Transitioning Toward My Destiny, Love and Life by Ryan Sallans