Transgender and gender-expansive individuals have been essential to the LGBTQ movement since its inception.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming identities are not "new"—they have existed across cultures for millennia.

This is about who a person is attracted to, which can be different from their gender identity.

Icons like and Sylvia Rivera , both trans women of color, were at the front lines of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Despite their foundational roles, transgender voices were often marginalized within the gay and lesbian movements of the 70s and 80s. Today’s culture is a reflection of the community reclaiming that history and demanding a seat at the table. Gender Identity vs. Sexual Orientation