The transgender community has long been the backbone of LGBTQ culture, driving its most pivotal social movements while simultaneously navigating unique layers of exclusion. From the front lines of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising to the contemporary push for gender-affirming care, transgender individuals have redefined the boundaries of identity and activism.

For years following Stonewall, trans people were often pushed aside by mainstream gay organizations. The "respectability politics" of the 1970s and 80s attempted to distance the movement from drag queens and transsexuals, fearing they would hinder the fight for marriage equality and military service. Despite this, trans people remained the backbone of HIV/AIDS activism (through organizations like ACT UP) and the fight against police violence.

The struggle for equality remains a "culture war" in many regions, where the rights of transgender people are often debated and politicised.