Over the last decade, trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals have become more visible in mainstream U.S. society appearing in popular books, e.g., Middlesex, She's not There; films, e.g., "Transamerica" and the "Danish Girl;" and television programs, e.g., "The Real World" and "I am Jazz." This entrance of TGNC individuals into mainstream culture opens possibilities for all of us in terms of freeing us from the limitations of both biology and gender stereotypes. However, TGNC people challenge everything we thought we knew about gender, i.e., from an attribute that is fixed and binary, to one that is fluid and diverse. Thus, their increasing visibility is threatening to many in U.S. society who do not want to relinquish traditional definitions of sex and gender. Those who feel threatened in turn threaten trans youth and adults, causing high levels of stress in their daily lives. The presentation summarizes data from a qualitative study that explored the subjective experiences of 28 individuals between the ages of 18 and 52 who self-identified as TGNC. The presentation will focus on the following themes: a) experiences of rejection from their family; b) negative experiences in school; c) not being treated as a "normal" human being by the medical establishment; and d) stress in romantic relationships. These findings have the potential to improve the experiences of TGNC individuals and transform mental health professionals' understanding of gender development and identity. -- Carmen Lalonde PsyD Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology | Yeshiva University carmen.lalonde8@gmail.com This e-mail is intended solely for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any review, dissemination, copying, printing, forwarding or other use of this e-mail by persons or entities other than the addressee is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from your computer.