Gender identity

Having a particular sex assigned to you at birth doesn't have to match your specific gender identity.

Gender identity reflects how you feel about you and how you experience your true self. It’s important to express your true identity.

Here are some ideas that may help you:

Trust the inner you. Gender identity can be confusing
It’s OK to choose your own gender
It’s OK to be unsure
It’s OK to change your mind
It’s OK to try out different identities until you find the right one for you

Remember, you’re not alone and there are others out there who feel like you do.

Don’t keep it to yourself. When you’re ready to come out, you may like to do it gradually. Staging it out may help you stay in control of the situation. Here are some things you can do:

Tell someone you trust – it can be hard talking about it at first, but telling someone about your experiences and how you are feeling may help you feel supported. You can ask this person to support you as you tell others.
Tell your parents – it’s important that you talk to your parents of caregivers, even though you may be afraid of how they might react. You can ask the person you trust to support you with this conversation.
Call us on 0800 What’s Up – we can help you figure things out and find the right support network. If it makes you feel more comfortable, you can ask to talk to the same counsellor every time you call.
Be confident – different people may react in different ways. But remember, no one should blame you and there is nothing wrong with you

Helpful websites you might like refer to:

Remember you have the right to be yourself. It’s not OK for other people to pressure you, discriminate against you or bully you about your gender identity.

If you’re being bullied or harassed, talk to an adult you trust or you can call or chat to us.