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A surgical procedure typically performed to change the appearance of a clitoris into those of dyadic, male-assigned genitalia; may require numerous surgeries depending on methodology.

A surgical procedure performed to preserve one’s current genitalia while creating a new vaginal opening. Penile preservation vaginoplasty is sometimes pursued by individuals who do not fit within the gender binary and/or people who feel more comfortable possessing both male- and female-assigned genitalia.

Surgical removal of the penis, sometimes performed during the process of creating a vagina.

A model of care and/or recovery consisting of people who provide knowledge, experience, emotional, social, or practical help to one another, sometimes in contexts outside of traditional mental health care settings (Mead, 2006). Mead, Shery, and Cheryl MacNeil. “Peer support: What makes it unique.” International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation 10.2 (2006): 29-37.

A Western social and cultural system of institutionalized power structures that uphold and reinforce the social dominance of heterosexual, cisgender men, but oppress, dominate, and exploit women and gender minorities. Within patriarchal societies, cisgender men typically control most wealth and private property and predominate in roles conferring citizens with significant political and/or moral authority. The gender binary—based on biological essentialism—is often used to justify this power imbalance and consequently creates conditions for misogyny, transphobia, and transmisogyny to flourish.

To regard or view someone (or something) as medically and/or psychologically unhealthy and/or abnormal. Some medical models pathologize substance use as deviant and criminal rather than viewing the behavior as an understandable response to trauma.

To be perceived by others as one’s true gender. Some trans people prefer terms like “blending in” or “cis-assumed.” When Cameron began growing a beard, he found that he passed as male to strangers, who frequently referred to him using he/him pronouns.