Stealth

Stealth is a term describing trans-identified people who do not disclose their trans status, so that most or all of the people in their lives do not know they are trans. Going stealth is related to passing—when a trans person’s gender identity is properly recognized by others—particularly since both practices typically entail compliance with dominant gender norms. Yet while passing can be unintentional or sporadic, stealth usually connotes a deliberate and thorough practice. We might also relate stealth to the notion of being closeted. This entry shows how medical and legal regulations specific to trans populations, along with the roles that race and class play in gender norms, help distinguish going stealth from the more general concept of being closeted and position stealth as a ...