Leo led Kai to a corner of the store where the "LGBTQ+ History & Memoir" section glowed under warm amber lights. He didn't just point to a shelf; he told a story. He spoke about the "Ballroom" culture of the 80s, where Black and Latine trans women created families of choice when their biological ones fell away. He talked about Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who fought not just for a seat at the table, but to flip the table entirely.

Without the transgender community, there would be no Pride march. Without trans women of color, there would be no modern LGBTQ political infrastructure.