gender identity

Gender identity is a person’s self-identified gender, which may or may not correspond with their "sex assigned at birth." Gender identity is how a person experiences and expresses their gender. The Yogyakarta Principles , international human rights principles revolving around sexual orientation and gender identity, describe gender identity as “each person’s presentation of the person's gender through physical appearance – including dress, hairstyles, accessories, cosmetics – and mannerisms, speech, behavioral patterns, names and personal references.” Many different gender identities exist including, male, female, transgender, gender neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, two-spirit, third gender, and all, none or a combination of these.

In the United States, some states explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity. In 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States heard R.G. & G.R. Funeral Homes v. EEOC , a case that addressed whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , which prohibits discrimination “on the basis of sex,” includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

[Last updated in June of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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