--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, for all trans people, it's not…" description: "\"I think, for all trans people, it's not our only defining feature, but it is a defining feature.\" — Nicole Maines" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg" --- # I think, for all trans people, it's not our only defining… ![“I think, for all trans people, it's not our only defining feature, but it is a defining feature.” quote by Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg) > “I think, for all trans people, it's not our only defining feature, but it is a defining feature.” [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trans identity is one aspect of a person but not the sole definition, acknowledging multifaceted humanity. **In simple terms:** Trans identity is part of, not all of, a person. Key Takeaway Recognize whole person beyond gender. Themes identity diversity humanity Mood empathetic affirming Type inspirational social When to use this quote - activism - personal relationships - media representation Key Concepts intersectionality selfhood Questions to Reflect On - How can we celebrate full personhood? - What other facets define us? A Different Perspective Identity can be reduced to a single trait, ignoring complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining/) [Defining Feature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-feature-2506901/) [Feature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feature/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Trans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-trans-2315255/) [Trans People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trans-people-272271/) ## Related quotes > [I am happy being a man in a dress. Some people get confused and think I'm a trans woman, but I'm strict about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conchita-wurst/i-am-happy-being-a-man-in-a-dress-some-people-get-confused-and-think/) [Conchita Wurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conchita-wurst/) > [A lot of people think that I am trans but I'm not trans. I am a gay male with hair and nails. So if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-freedia/a-lot-of-people-think-that-i-am-trans-but-i-m-not-trans-i-am-a-gay/) [Big Freedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-freedia/) > [There are times when I think that trans women have a certain wisdom on gender, and can see the ways it's performed that cis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/there-are-times-when-i-think-that-trans-women-have-a-certain-wisdom/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [“We’re at this really unique time, I think, in trans representation in popular culture where homelessness, depression, mental health issues, instability-in-general are still so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kellaway/we-re-at-this-really-unique-time-i-think-in-trans-representation-in/) [Mitch Kellaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kellaway/) > [I actually think that trans lives are pretty understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-actually-think-that-trans-lives-are-pretty-understandable/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I think that trans women have endured a lot and they compromise a lot when dealing with cis hetero men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-think-that-trans-women-have-endured-a-lot-and-they-compromise-a-lot/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [All political parties, organizations, and all people should abide by the constitution and laws without any exception. They must all act in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wen-jiabao/all-political-parties-organizations-and-all-people-should-abide-by/) [Wen Jiabao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wen-jiabao/) > [More than anything, I want fans to take away an understanding of trans people that we can be anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/more-than-anything-i-want-fans-to-take-away-an-understanding-of-trans/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Having trans people play trans roles show that we are valid in our identities, and we exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/having-trans-people-play-trans-roles-show-that-we-are-valid-in-our/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I think kids need to watch 'Supergirl' for Nia, because there are more and more trans people coming out younger and younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-think-kids-need-to-watch-supergirl-for-nia-because-there-are-more/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Historically, we have seen cis men play trans women and vice versa. That casting breaks through the fourth wall, and it gives people the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/historically-we-have-seen-cis-men-play-trans-women-and-vice-versa/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [We have to learn to be allies to each other. We are in a deficit of financial and social capital, and TransTech aims to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-ross/we-have-to-learn-to-be-allies-to-each-other-we-are-in-a-deficit-of/) [Angelica Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-ross/) > [We still live in a country where there's disproportionate violence faced by our community, especially trans people and trans people of color. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/we-still-live-in-a-country-where-there-s-disproportionate-violence/) [Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/) > [“The misconception of equating ease of life with “passing” must be dismantled in our culture. The work begins by each of us recognizing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/the-misconception-of-equating-ease-of-life-with-passing-must-be/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that only gender non-conforming, non-binary, or trans people have a gender identity. But the truth is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-think-one-of-the-biggest-misconceptions-is-that-only-gender-non/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) ## More by Nicole Maines > [There are infinite combinations that people can experience, because no two people are alike, and no two people's identities should be expected to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/there-are-infinite-combinations-that-people-can-experience-because-no/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [For a number of years at my public elementary school in rural Maine, I was treated like all the other girls in school. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/for-a-number-of-years-at-my-public-elementary-school-in-rural-maine-i/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [When I was first trying to explain to my parents that I was really a girl, my father didn't know what to do. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/when-i-was-first-trying-to-explain-to-my-parents-that-i-was-really-a/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I did a guest episode of 'Royal Pains,' and then right after that, 'Supergirl' happened, and I was like, 'How did I get here?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-did-a-guest-episode-of-royal-pains-and-then-right-after-that/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Historically, we have seen cis men play trans women and vice versa. That casting breaks through the fourth wall, and it gives people the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/historically-we-have-seen-cis-men-play-trans-women-and-vice-versa/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [At some point, I want to create a family and help them on their journey like my family helped me on mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/at-some-point-i-want-to-create-a-family-and-help-them-on-their/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [It's OK not to understand the whole trans thing. That's alright. My dad didn't understand it. I still don't know everything. What's important is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/it-s-ok-not-to-understand-the-whole-trans-thing-that-s-alright-my-dad/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Family has been really important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/family-has-been-really-important-to-me/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Growing up, I was from kind of Nowhere, Maine. And, so, now having thousands of people reaching out to me via social media and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/growing-up-i-was-from-kind-of-nowhere-maine-and-so-now-having/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Separate but equal does not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/separate-but-equal-does-not-work/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I knew that I was trans when I was three years old. Well, I didn't know 'trans' because I didn't know there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-knew-that-i-was-trans-when-i-was-three-years-old-well-i-didn-t-know/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [My family knew that they loved me, and whatever this 'I want to be a girl' business was, it certainly wasn't about to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/my-family-knew-that-they-loved-me-and-whatever-this-i-want-to-be-a/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I hope I can help convince people there that being transgender is not a big deal and that we are just average people trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-hope-i-can-help-convince-people-there-that-being-transgender-is-not/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I know from first-hand experience that separating transgender students from their peers can cause many to leave school, hide who they are, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-know-from-first-hand-experience-that-separating-transgender/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/children-are-a-lot-smarter-than-we-give-them-credit-for/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) [Explore all 54 Nicole Maines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) ## More Defining quotes > [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/good-history-is-a-question-of-survival-without-any-past-we-will/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [ I never left my roots. You can identify me as someone that didn't become high and mighty. Humility is a defining \[trait\] all of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-never-left-my-roots-you-can-identify-me-as-someone-that-didn-t/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I think the word 'soul' - it depends on what you define by 'soul.' If you're defining it as a mystical aura that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/i-think-the-word-soul-it-depends-on-what-you-define-by-soul-if-you-re/) [Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/) > [“There are no defining moments. There are only your moments to define.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-dowd/there-are-no-defining-moments-there-are-only-your-moments-to-define/) [Thomas B Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-dowd/) > [My journey has been a long one and has still got a long way to go. I think we are so used to defining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/my-journey-has-been-a-long-one-and-has-still-got-a-long-way-to-go-i/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [“Defining the Renaissance Man “A man can do all that he will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-griffiths-and-eric-elfman/defining-the-renaissance-man-a-man-can-do-all-that-he-will/) [Scott Griffiths and Eric Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-griffiths-and-eric-elfman/) > [The defining aspects of westerns are still pretty much in place - namely landscape and conflict. In other books the conflict can be internal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/the-defining-aspects-of-westerns-are-still-pretty-much-in-place/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) > [Our concepts structure what we perceive, how we get around in the world and how we relate to other people. Our conceptual system thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/our-concepts-structure-what-we-perceive-how-we-get-around-in-the/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [It's imprecise and insufficient, defining the homosexual as a person whose gender expression is at odds with his or her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/it-s-imprecise-and-insufficient-defining-the-homosexual-as-a-person/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Modern societies accepted the treasures and the power offered them by science. 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It was wrong. You don't nationalize private - it was wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-gohmert/i-think-tarp-was-the-most-defining-vote-since-i-ve-been-in-congress/) [Louie Gohmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-gohmert/) [Browse all 544 Defining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think, for all trans people, it's not our only defining feature, but it is a defining feature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicole Maines" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-our-only-defining-feature-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-our-only-defining-feature-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/nicole-maines-12524_defining_i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-ou_2671556.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think, for all trans people, it's not our only defining feature, but it is a defining feature.” — Nicole Maines", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nicole Maines", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think, for all trans people,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-our-only-defining-feature-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-think-for-all-trans-people-it-s-not-our-only-defining-feature-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```