The modern LGBTQ rights movement did not begin at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, but that fiery night crystallized the alliance between gender and sexual minorities. What many mainstream narratives omit is that the first bricks thrown at Stonewall were thrown by transgender women, gender-nonconforming people, and drag queens.
Despite these advances, the transgender community continues to face significant challenges, including high levels of violence, discrimination, and marginalization. Transgender people are disproportionately affected by poverty, homelessness, and unemployment, and are often excluded from healthcare, education, and other vital services.