Glossary
C
Care planning
Process that a person, their health care providers, family and other supporters undertake in planning to reach their gender-affirming care goals.
Chest construction
A gender-affirming, upper surgery that removes breast tissue and sculpts remaining tissue into a shape that is typically considered to be more masculine.
Cisgender
Refers to people who are non-trans, i.e. whose gender matches their assigned sex at birth.
Clitoris
An erogenous and erectile organ located above the urethral opening that consists of a complex network of erectile tissue and nerves, with parts located inside and outside the body. A person may be born with a clitoris or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "erectile tissue (clitoris)" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), and "clitoris" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use.
Coming out
The process of becoming aware of one’s trans identity, accepting it, or telling others about it. Coming out is also used to refer to disclosing one’s non-heterosexual sexual orientation. (Source: QMUNITY)
CPATH
Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH) is a professional organization devoted to trans health whose mission as an multidisciplinary professional association is to promote evidence-based care, education, research, advocacy, public policy and respect in trans health.
Cross-dresser
People who wear clothing traditionally associated with a different gender than their gender; cross-dressers may or may not be trans. Cross-dresser has generally replaced the term transvestite, as transvestite is considered offensive by many. (Source: QMUNITY)