Consent concerns the activity people actually want to share, not a general entitlement created by dating. TransHub describes consent as an ongoing process that can change. For adult partners, a useful starting point is a clear invitation with room for a real answer, including no, not now or stop.
Ask about the specific activity
Agreement to a date is not agreement to physical contact. Agreement to one kind of contact is not permission for something different. Ask about the next choice rather than treating a previous yes as a package of permissions.
For example: “Would you like a hug?” gives a clearer question than moving closer and expecting the other person to object. Allow time for an answer. If you are unsure whether they want the activity, pause rather than interpreting uncertainty as agreement.
Make refusal possible without a penalty
Do not bargain with a no or repeatedly rephrase the same request. Paying for a meal, travelling a long way or being in a relationship does not make someone owe intimacy. Their answer does not need a private explanation before it counts.
You can express disappointment without asking the other person to reverse their decision to manage it. Choose another mutually wanted activity or end the meeting. Do not present continued company as conditional on accepting the contact you requested.
Keep checking when the situation changes
Someone can change their mind after an activity begins. Stop when asked, and check if a response becomes uncertain rather than pressing ahead. Silence, stillness or a lack of resistance should not be treated as a substitute for clear willingness.
Do not proceed when a person cannot understand the choice or communicate a willing answer, including when they are asleep or too impaired to do so. This is a practical consent standard, not a summary of the law in every jurisdiction.
Keep records and audiences separate
Consent to an intimate moment is not consent to photographs, recordings or sharing details with others. Ask separately about any proposed recording or disclosure. A person's trans identity does not change these choices or make private information public.
Afterwards, listen if someone wants to discuss a limit. You do not have to resolve every question immediately, but do not use an earlier yes to dismiss what they are saying now.
Further reading
TransHub: consent and communication and RAINN: Consent 101. These are non-graphic adult communication examples, not legal advice or a guarantee of safety.