That is the promise of the transgender community to LGBTQ culture—and it is a promise that must be kept. If you or someone you know is looking for resources regarding the transgender community, consider reaching out to The Trevor Project, The National Center for Transgender Equality, or your local LGBTQ community center.
Their activism did not end that night. In 1970, they founded , a radical collective that provided housing and support for homeless transgender youth in Manhattan. At a time when mainstream gay organizations like the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) wanted to distance themselves from "unseemly" trans women and drag queens to appear more palatable to straight society, Johnson and Rivera doubled down. shemale tube videos top
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, it was the "street queens"—transgender women and drag queens who were tired of constant police brutality—who fought back. Johnson, a self-identified drag queen and trans activist, famously threw the first "shot glass" that sparked three days of riots. Rivera, a Latina trans woman, fought alongside her. That is the promise of the transgender community
However, mainstream LGBTQ culture has largely rejected this splintering. Why? Because history shows that the arguments used against trans people today (predators in bathrooms, confusion of children, mental illness) are the exact arguments used against gay people thirty years ago. In 1970, they founded , a radical collective
Furthermore, the widespread adoption of (e.g., "My pronouns are she/her") is a trans-led innovation. When a cisgender person puts their pronouns in their email signature or Instagram bio, they are participating in a culture of accountability pioneered by trans activists. This act normalizes the fact that you cannot assume a person's gender by looking at them.
Without the trans community, LGBTQ culture loses its edge, its color, and its courage. It becomes a safe, corporate-sponsored "Gay, Inc." focused on wedding cake bakers and military service. With the trans community leading, LGBTQ culture remains a revolutionary force—one that questions the very nature of the binary, cares for the outcasts, and insists that liberation cannot come if anyone is left behind.
As you wave a rainbow flag or attend a Pride event, look for the trans flag—the light blue, pink, and white stripes. Listen for the voices that have been silenced by history books. Support the organizations that put needles in arms and binders on chests.