The transgender community and LGBTQ+ culture are deeply intertwined through shared histories of resistance and a collective pursuit of authentic identity. While often grouped together, the transgender experience is distinct, focusing on gender identity—one's internal sense of being male, female, or another gender—rather than sexual orientation.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming people have existed throughout history, though their stories were often erased or obscured. The modern movement gained significant momentum in the mid-20th century:

Transgender culture today is marked by a spectrum of identities and an increasing presence in mainstream media: LGBTQIA+ Glossary | LGBTQ Resource Center - UCSF

: This pivotal event in New York City is widely considered the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Transgender women of color, notably Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera , were at the front lines of the resistance against police harassment.