![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/rqWIakETTF0fm\/giphy.gif\"width=\"100%\")
<\/p>\nLet me set the scene.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re at some bar on Makdissi Street with a couple of friends, waiting for that one who\u2019s always late. She finally arrives and there\u2019s someone new with her. You don\u2019t pay much attention at first, too distracted by the fact that she still<\/i> hasn\u2019t apologized for being late (rude).<\/p>\n
When you do<\/i> get a closer look at the person sitting across from you, you pause. Is it a guy? Girl? You want to ask your friend to avoid potential blunders, but she\u2019s not looking your way. Sneakily, you let your eyes scan their bodies for any distinguishable features, to no avail (trust me, you\u2019re never as subtle as you think you\u2019re being). Their name isn\u2019t very helpful either. Suddenly and with relevance, this person chooses to mention that they are transgender. <\/p>\n
You\u2019re interested to know more. You decide to take matters into your own hands and turn to the person in question to ask\u2026well, hopefully none of the godawful items below.<\/p>\n
Here is a list of four questions you should NOT be asking a trans person you\u2019ve just met:<\/big><\/p>\n
1. \u201cAre you a boy or a girl?\u201d<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Unless you\u2019re a confused child, asking a transgender adult whether they are a \u201cboy\u201d or \u201cgirl\u201d is always off-putting.<\/big><\/p>\n
2. \u201cWhat\u2019s your real name?\u201d<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/louderwithcrowder.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ZoolanderWhoamI.gif\"width=\"100%\")
<\/p>\n
Not all trans people change their legal names due to personal choice or the travails of bureaucracy, but many do for our own reasons. The name we present during introductions is the name you should use, no other strange questions asked.<\/big><\/p>\n
3. \u201cDo you have a penis or vagina?\u201d<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-3wBC3RS9BXk\/T6VUfOr5whI\/AAAAAAAABG8\/EGULByvyshE\/w1200-h630-p-nu\/jumping-out-of-window.gif\"width=\"100%\")
<\/p>\n
Yes, it does often escalate that quickly, and no, never is this an appropriate question to ask anybody<\/i>.<\/big><\/p>\n
4. \u201cHow\/with whom do you have sex?\u201d<\/b><\/big><\/big><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/m.popkey.co\/572153\/bqZpW.gif\u2028\u2028\"width=\"100%\")
<\/p>\n
If the person hasn\u2019t brought their sexuality up for discussion, you definitely shouldn\u2019t be the one initiating it.<\/p>\n
Generally, it\u2019s better not to ask a trans person any intrusive questions regarding their body or sexuality. You know, questions that you wouldn\u2019t ask anyone else right off the bat. Try starting with more common and less antisocial questions regarding interests, hobbies, studies, etc. To respectfully learn the correct pronoun(s), simply ask, \u201cHow do you identify?\u201d or \u201cHow should I address you?\u201d<\/p>\n
If questions like these two make you more uncomfortable than any of those listed above, it\u2019s best to wait to be spoken to or avoid interaction altogether.<\/big><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let me set the scene.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":412209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_preview_accessed":0,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"media-embed-type":[],"class_list":["post-48532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"authorship":[57],"yoast_head":"\n