Gender Nonconforming (GNC)

A broad descriptor for people whose gender expression does not conform to the social norms and expectations associated with their assigned sex at birth or identified gender. GNC is primarily an expression descriptor - it does not require a specific gender identity. A cisgender man who wears dresses is gender nonconforming.

Gender + nonconforming. Used clinically and in community contexts from the 1990s onward. Sometimes abbreviated GNC.

Gender-nonconforming people have existed throughout history - from ancient religious traditions honoring gender-variant priests to the persistent presence of gender-nonconforming expression in art, performance, and everyday life across cultures. The term emerged in psychology and medical contexts in the 1980s-1990s, then was widely adopted by community organizations in the 2000s.