“Gender identity or expression” is defined by The Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) as “a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.” In addition to covering transgendered people, the phrase includes people who do not conform to stereotypical views of how “real men” or “real women” should look or act.

Breaking the phrase down the organization the Transgender Law and Policy Institute says, “Gender identity” can be defined as a person’s own sense of identity as a man, woman, or a combination of both or neither while “gender expression” is the external presentation or appearance of a person’s gender.” When speaking of gender and sex inclusion, Moonhawk River Stone of HawkStone Consulting calls gender identity and gender expression “the five magic words which cover everyone” (Stone, 2008).