Check out G&STC’s Director Jesse Kahn talking with HuffPost about what it means to be transmasculine

Check out G&STC’s Director Jesse Kahn talking with Kelsey Borresen at HuffPost about what it means to be transmasculine and nonbinary.

Generally speaking, the term refers to people whose “gender identity or expression leans masculine,” sex therapist Jesse Kahn, director of the Gender and Sexuality Therapy Center in New York City, told HuffPost. But transmasculine people don’t necessarily think of themselves as “men,” Kahn explained.

“It can encompass a range of genders and experiences, such as being nonbinary or genderqueer, as long as masculinity is a primary aspect of their identity,” Kahn continued.

You can also think of it this way, they said: “Usually, trans men are transmasculine, but not all transmasculine people are trans men.”

Still, even those definitions may not cover everyone. “It’s important to remember that these are general ways to understand the terms,” Kahn noted.

Read the full article here.

More from G&STC therapist Jesse Kahn on this topic:

How do you define transmasculine? And how does that differ from identifying as a trans man?

Generally speaking, the term transmasculine is intended to refer to individuals whose gender identity or expression leans masculine. The term is often used as an umbrella term that includes people assigned female at birth (“AFAB”) who identify with or express masculinity in some capacity. Being transmasculine doesn't necessarily mean someone thinks of themselves as a man though - it can encompass a range of genders and experiences, such as being nonbinary or genderqueer, as long as masculinity is a primary aspect of their identity. A trans man usually specifies that someone identifies as a man - and some trans men may refer to themselves as a “man of trans experience."

These definitions may not fit everyone though, so it’s important to remember that these are general ways to understand the terms. 

Usually trans men are transmasculine, but not all transmasculine people are trans men.

What does it mean to be both transmasculine and non-binary?

Often what this will mean is that a person’s identity or expression leans towards masculine, but that they do not consider their gender to be within a binary framework of man and woman, but instead exists outside of, in between, or without these categories, while connecting to and often expressing the masculine aspects of their identity.

Are there any misconceptions about transmasculinity that you'd like to clear up? 

Some common misconceptions about transmasculinity include: 

• “Transmasculine people want to transition to look like cisgender men” → Not every transmasculine person desires or has access to medical transition. Transitioning is deeply personal, and some may only pursue certain aspects (such as top surgery or hormones), while others may not pursue medical changes at all and may or may not choose to bind. Also, “looking like a cisgender person” is often not the goal for every trans person, and some people want to be “visibly” gender expansive. 

• “Trans masc people aren’t feminine at all and reject femininity” → It’s important to note that some transmasculine people can also be and express femininity - it’s also sometimes about expansiveness. Also, embracing masculinity does not mean rejecting femininity. Many transmasculine individuals incorporate elements of femininity into their identity or presentation, reflecting the complexity and fluidity of their gender.

• "You can always tell if someone is transmasculine." → Transmasculine people don’t have a single "look" or way of expressing their genders. Gender presentation varies widely for every gender, and someone's outward appearance doesn’t always align with societal expectations of their gender.

• “Being transmasculine is just a phase or stepping stone to identifying as a man.” → Being transmasculine is an identity, and this misconception invalidates the identities of many transmasculine individuals. For some, masculinity is just one part of their broader non-binary, fluid, or gender expansive identity, and they are not on a path to fully identify as men. 

Anything else you'd like to add on the subject? 

It’s important to note and remember that the definitions of words and what it means to be any identity, is all very personal and subjective.

Transmasculinity is one example of human diversity within the spectrum of gender identities, emphasizing masculinity as an identity, experience and expression, rather than a strictly binary gender-based identity. Trans masculinity challenges societal norms by demonstrating that masculinity isn’t exclusive to cisgender men and can co-exist with non-binary, expansive and fluid gender identities. 

Respecting transmasculine individuals and identities means honoring their pronouns, identities, and expressions without making assumptions.

Ultimately, each transmasculine journey is personal, valid, and deserving of affirmation.