This Pride—and every day—remember that you can’t have the rainbow without the full spectrum. 🏳️⚧️🌈 Are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community? How has the trans community impacted your life? Let us know in the comments below.
While there is unity, the relationship hasn't always been easy. Historically, some "LGB" spaces excluded trans people under the guise of "protecting women’s spaces" or "biological reality." This led to the term (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) to describe those within the LGBTQ family who reject trans identity.
We often talk about the "LGB" in terms of sexual orientation (who you love), but the "T" is about gender identity (who you are). While these are different concepts, the transgender community is not just a side note in LGBTQ history—it is a foundational pillar. To understand queer culture, you have to understand and celebrate the trans experience.
When we think of the start of the modern gay rights movement, we think of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The heroes of that uprising? Mostly transgender women, gender-nonconforming people, and drag queens.