1. “Clock”
For cis people: an instrument that allows you to tell time.
For trans people: when someone is able to tell that another person is trans. Some folks object to the term because of its association with being punched.
I didn’t think anyone could tell I’m trans until some bratty kid clocked me.
2. “Chaser”
For cis people: that drink you have right after that other drink you have.
For trans people: a person (usually a man) who chases you around because you’re trans and refuses to take the hint.
Don’t friend that random guy on Facebook. He’s a total chaser!
3. “Packing”
For cis people: putting your damn stuff into damn suitcases or boxes.
For trans people: using a prosthetic device to give the outward appearance of having a penis.
I thought packing would keep people from staring at my crotch when they find out I’m trans, but they keep doing it anyway.
4. “Tuck”
For cis people: what you do with your shirt to make yourself look neat.
For trans people: what you do with your lady-penis if you’re a trans woman or femme to make yourself look like you have a vagina.
Almost ready to go out tonight — just have to tuck first!
5. “Pass”
For cis people: tossing something.
For racial minorities: to be perceived as a different race (usually white) than you actually are.
For trans people: to be perceived as cisgender.
I wouldn’t care if I pass, except it makes me feel safer when I’m walking home at night.
6. “Tall girl”
For cis people: You know, a tall girl.
For trans people: A way of referring to a trans woman.
That gorgeous woman over there is a tall girl like me.
7. “Binder”
For cis people: those contraptions where you keep your notes.
For trans people: those contraptions where you keep your chest contained if you’re a transmasculine or otherwise gender-nonconforming person with breasts.
Wearing a binder is a total lifesaver, because it makes me feel more comfortable with my gender presentation.
8. “CD”
For cis people: those discs you played music on unless you were born in the 21st century.
For trans people: an abbreviation for cross-dresser.
I’m pretty sure she’s a CD and doesn’t consider herself to be trans.
9. “Stealth”
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For cis people: hidden, like a bomber.
For trans people: hidden, like your trans status.
I’d love to be out but I’m stealth on the job, because otherwise I’m worried I’d get fired.
10. “Read”
For cis people: to get meaning from printed words.
For trans people:
a. to get that someone’s trans just by looking at them. More friendly than “clock.” OR:
b. to tell someone painful realities about themselves they don’t necessarily want to hear.
a. That other trans girl totally read me and we had a bonding moment.
b. Stop being so petty or I will read you.
11. “Full-time”
For cis people: a boring day job.
For trans people: a joyful occasion when you can finally present as the gender you feel yourself to be all the time.
After years of presenting as a woman only for special occasions, she went full-time last week and things are going really well so far.
12. “Egg”
For cis people: proto-chicks that will someday come out of their shell and become chickens, unless we eat them first.
For trans people: proto-trans women who haven’t transitioned but will someday come out of their shell and be their true selves, unless society prevents them.
When I started growing my hair long in college without really understanding why, I was a total egg.
13. “Muggle”
For cis people: those boring people in Harry Potter books who have no magical powers.
For trans people: those boring people in the world who have no gender-changing powers, aka cis people.
Don’t mind her transphobia, she’s just a clueless Muggle.