Gender identity means our sense of being male, female, neither or a little bit of both. It’s different from sexual orientation, which is about who we’re attracted to sexually and romantically.

Gender identity comes from the inside out. That means that even though you might have female body parts—a vulva, vagina and ovaries—you might not feel feminine. Most people do, but not everyone. Same goes for a guy who has a penis and testicles, but doesn’t feel masculine.

People who believe their gender—the feelings they have inside—are different from their body parts may identify themselves as transgender or genderqueer.