PurposeThis study aims to increase the understanding of the early-stage identity-related information needs of transgender people.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on social constructivism, queer theory and information practice research. In accordance with the queer phenomenological approach which emphasises lived experiences, data was collected by interviewing 25 individuals who identified as transgender. The data was analysed with a focus on how early-stage information needs are formed into conscious information needs.FindingsThe formation of early-stage information needs were conceptualised as a chain including a trigger for information seeking, finding the right words and understanding the experience. Especially the bodily changes starting at puberty were strong causes of discomfort causing friction between the subjects' own gendered body and their gender experience, even leading to gender dysphoria. Finding words to describe the experience played an important role in the process of identity formation. In many cases this was difficult because of the lack of accurate and relevant information.Social implicationsProviding information especially of varying transgender experiences is vital for individuals trying to understand and verbalise their gender identity.Originality/valueThis study provides an understanding of the early-stage information needs described by transgender people and the process of building identities through disorientation. This study suggests that early-stage information needs are a valid concept to help understand how embodied experiences and the friction between the lived experience and the social world can lead to information seeking.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the seeking of deeply meaningful information, also including embodied information, connected to significant, intensely personal life changes having lifelong impacts. The concepts of "meaning-making," "transitioning," and information seeking in "deeply meaningful and profoundly personal contexts" are used in order to understand transgender individuals' information seeking in the contexts of gender identity formation. Based on the literature, emotions and information seeking connected to a significant life change were divided into four phases to study how they could be identified in the 25 qualitative interviews with transgender individuals from Finland between the ages of 15 and 72. Based on the findings of this study, in significant life changes, an individual needs reliable, sensible and identifiable information. Serendipitous encounters and embodied experiences characterize information seeking during transitional stages. Peer communities are important for minorities in order to find places where interviewees feel safe to share information and experiences. These communities can also be found online. The concept of "deeply meaningful information" highlights the effect information has on information seekers. Deeply meaningful information can serve as a trigger for life change, helping people forward during the transitions.

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The topic of this paper is how people representing gender minorities have first encountered with information concerning gender minorities. Gender minorities includes transgender, gender nonconforming, cross-dressers and intersex people. Transgender peoples' gender identities, expressions, or behaviors are not associated with their birth sex and they may be treated with hormonal or surgical procedures to make their bodies more congruent with their gender identities. The gender identity of gender nonconforming people is not binary (i.e., either male or female) and they may want partial or total transition treatments. Cross-dresser refers to people who enjoy wearing the clothing and adopting the style that is considered by society to be of other sex. Intersex refers to persons born with atypical genital or reproductive anatomy who usually identify as male or female.