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legible is the idea of language and terminology. Participants explained ways language is both limiting and empowering in their journeys. Language can serve as a starting point for trans masculine individuals to make meaning, connect with community, and make themselves

include non-binary identities. Some participants touched on how reclaiming words like “queer” is empowering, and words like “trans” and “gender” can become something sacred.

Participant 4 reflected on the role of language in recognizing his identity as a transgender man: “I did not have vocabulary for it, though. So, I was like, 'I don’t know what this is. I can’t possibly be a girl, though. It doesn’t feel right,'” (p. 5). Similarly, Participant 1 shared: “Um, I know that at face value that I am who I am.... I'm a man, and I've had these feelings, even if I did not have a word for them,” (p. 2). Participant 3 brought to light the power of language and terminology, along with the unhelpful messages he extrapolates from “gender-neutral” verbiage:

I feel like a lot of people don't know enough about the difference between being assigned female at birth and being female… or being assigned male at birth and being male. You can say, “Oh yes, I'm a guy or girl or woman or man,” but when it comes to describing what you “actually are,” I feel like not enough of the population knows the terms to use. Like how you asked me about what AFAB and AMAB meant, because those are really useful terms! Because when you use female or male as a scientific term, it kind of negates the whole point of transness. it's like, then you're not technically this because you're actually female but you identify as male but you're still female in the book of XY chromosomes or whatever… or, actually, things we need more words for is gender fluidity.

It actually makes me feel kind of bad about myself, just seeing words like gender-neutral. It feels like it is not respected. Like the whole “Save the Ta Ta” things for breast cancer. I get that you're trying to help, but you're kind of making it weird. Like you're making it seem like you don't care about the person underneath, like you don't actually care about the person or the whole idea of gender identity itself. I guess gender-neutral restroom is a totally professional way to put it, but just putting “whatever, we don't care” with those little pictures of a man/woman fusion. I feel like it's mocking gender identity itself. Participant 5 added:

We're limited by the language that we’re using, you know, and we know that the

language that we choose impacts how we think about things. It's not like those two things can be separated from each other, so I think we do need to open up language significantly because everything is gendered in the binary right now, and it's not accurate or authentic, and it does harm to people who don't fall into it that. And it does harm to people who even do fall into that!

Like, you know how uncomfortable cis people get when I say the word queer, like, in like everyday language. And I'm just like, “No! We need to be adopting these words!” We need to be understanding and adopting words that explain the... in between, you know? Participant 6 offered tangible examples of developing language:

I think differentiating biological sex and gender would be a good start. So many people are led to believe that they are the same thing. Yes, the language can be expanded. Like on forms, it should be more collaborative. This goes for all identities, (e.g. race, ethnicity, SES, etc.) because there cannot possibly be enough “boxes” to check.

In lieu of expanding language, content, and terminology, Participant 7 suggested total language reform:

I just think ultimately moving everything in English, or any language, to be absent of gender … And so people exist as people, and they aren't expected to conform to stereotypes that exist depending on gender roles or stereotypes or anything like that. I think that people, just by using specific language, can make me feel shitty for the rest of my day. It's a weird power that society has over us as trans people (laughs)… I don't know… it's all weird...

Participant 10 spoke to the power of language, identity and validation. They explained why terms like “gender” and the prefix “trans” hold significant meaning to them:

Yeah, I think that's why I say something like “queer” is just a good overall term. Not necessarily meaning you have to fit one way or another. And it kind of completely foregoes masculinity and femininity. It is such a broad term that is more inclusive. I think that the word gender is something really special, because you have to say it so many times when you are explaining it to different people, and when you're reading it for yourself. It's something that becomes sacred, not only through the repetition but also the significance of always having to see gender on a form… and you have to fill it out regardless of where you are in that point of your life. Whenever I hear the word gender, I'm always like, “What are they about to say?” Because I want to know, whether it's going to be good or bad. Just because I care. I'm invested in gender. It's something I spend a lot of time on.

Participant 8 harkened back to applications of the developmental approach, highlighting how it is easier to use cis and heteronormative language as reference points, because language to describe the trans experience is much less abundant. I was left to question the impact on identity development when one lacks appropriate reference points:

Like, people were only able to understand homosexuality and stuff when they explained it as, “Well, it's the same kind of love and stuff that you have.” But before that people were like, “Oh no! This is weird!” Only as soon as people started realizing that, yeah actually this is the same thing, it's just with somebody of the same gender, then people were able to actually start understanding it. In a sense, it's so hard to find that equivalent for people who are not trans since no one has that language yet to describe it to cis people. It's really difficult to be able to educate people and also teach them how to react to having their ideas questioned.

Finally, Participant 12 commented on how medical terminology seemed outdated in his experience; while "transsexual" may be a term some identify with, it was inaccurate for him. Nevertheless, he works with the tools he is given:

I mean, transsexual is an outdated word, but it's better than something else. I don't know. Something probably more offensive. But I just looked at that and I was like, “Wow, that is such an outdated thing! Why can't you just put diagnosis transgender?” It was just like… “transsexualism,” and that just doesn't hit me right. It's just weird. It was strange to me. They could have put something better... Yes, I was just scratching my head, and just like, “Let me fill my prescription to treat my transsexualism!”