: "Transgender" serves as an umbrella term for those whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex assigned at birth.

: Figures such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) to support homeless queer youth, establishing the community's tradition of mutual aid.

The transgender community is not a niche subculture within LGBTQ+ life. It is the vanguard. The questions trans people force society to ask— What is a man? What is a woman? Who gets to define you? —are the same questions that liberate everyone from rigid, oppressive boxes.

Respect is the foundation of a healthy LGBTQ+ culture. Here are simple ways to be a better ally:

Since the mid-2010s, particularly following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. (2015), the focus of mainstream LGBTQ advocacy has shifted decisively toward transgender rights. The public battles over “bathroom bills,” transgender military bans, and healthcare restrictions have forced a re-consolidation of the coalition.