This describes some people’s path. Depends on what you mean by “the transgender identity.” Some people say, I don’t identify as this gender and I’m not going to live this way; I’ll transition. But that doesn’t mean they feel transgender (or “third gender” or nonbinary, etc.) or that they intend to be open with others about their transgender feelings or history. They may identify primarily as “man” or “woman.” That they are trans and not cis is an undeniable fact but perhaps they do not build their life and thought around that distinction, in which case “transgender” for them is a secondary identity or not much of an identity at all.