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Pass

(verb, adj)

“Passing” occurs when a member of the LGBTQ+ community presents as cisgender or heterosexual by conforming to societal roles in their physical appearance and/or behaviors. Many people may try to pass in anti-LGBTQ environments to ensure their safety (Source).

Example: Denise is a trans woman who worries she does not pass very well and fears for her safety in public. Her other transfemme friends reassure her that she is a woman, regardless of how others may view her.


Why it’s important to know this: Transgender and nonbinary students do not need to “pass” or fit in to deserve respect. It is important to be inclusive of all identities, regardless of whether they outwardly fit into traditional roles of gender and sexual orientation. 

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