LGBTQ culture is a vibrant and multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses a wide range of experiences, identities, and expressions. At its core, LGBTQ culture is about celebrating diversity, promoting inclusivity, and challenging social norms. The transgender community is an integral part of this culture, bringing unique perspectives and experiences to the table.

At first glance, a drag queen performing hyper-femininity and a trans woman living her daily life as a woman seem different. One is performance art; the other is identity. Yet, historically, the line has been porous. In the 1980s and 90s, many trans women found their first language for their identity in drag scenes. Ballroom culture—immortalized in the documentary Paris is Burning —was a haven for gay, trans, and gender-nonconforming Black and Latinx youth. The "categories" in balls (Realness, Femme Queen, Butch Queen) allowed transgender participants to compete, survive, and create art long before mainstream society acknowledged them.

LGBTQ history curricula must teach Stonewall honestly, centering Johnson, Rivera, and other trans figures. It is impossible to understand queer resistance without understanding trans resistance.

Before 1969, police raids on gay bars were routine. But when officers raided the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village, the patrons fought back. Central to that uprising were transgender women of color: (a self-identified drag queen and trans activist) and Sylvia Rivera (a Latina trans woman and founding member of the Gay Liberation Front).

Trans people also face racism, ableism, classism, and other forms of oppression. A truly inclusive LGBTQ+ culture must center the most marginalized voices – particularly trans women of color, disabled trans people, and trans immigrants.

Visibility and representation are crucial for the transgender community and LGBTQ culture. When LGBTQ individuals see themselves reflected in media, politics, and other areas of public life, it can have a profound impact on their sense of self-worth and belonging. Positive representation can help challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma, and promote greater understanding and acceptance.

Yet, for every schism, there are a thousand moments of unity. Most gay bars are still the safest place for a trans person to go on a date. Most lesbian potlucks will defend a trans sister over a cisgender interloper. The concept of "queer joy"—the radical act of happiness in the face of oppression—is fueled by trans people living authentically.

In recent years, hundreds of bills in various countries (especially the U.S.) have targeted trans people: