The transgender community is not a new addition to LGBTQ culture. It is the fire that lit the torch at Stonewall. It is the art that colors the ballroom. It is the courage that forces the community to look beyond marriage and respectability toward true, radical liberation.

As the political climate grows hostile, the future of LGBTQ culture will depend on its ability to stand as a united front. When we say "LGBTQ," the "T" is not silent. It is loud, proud, and inseparable from the rest.

The rainbow flag has undergone many iterations. The most recent, the Progress Pride Flag, adds a chevron of black, brown, light blue, pink, and white—specifically highlighting trans people and queer people of color. It is a visual reminder that the fight for gay rights began at the feet of trans women, and it will not end until every trans person can live safely, authentically, and freely.

To be queer is to defy easy categories. To be trans is to live that defiance every single day. And that is the most queer thing of all.

  • Gender Dysphoria: Clinically significant distress caused by a mismatch between assigned sex and gender identity. Not all trans people experience dysphoria, but many do.
  • Gender Euphoria: The joy, relief, or affirmation felt when one’s gender is recognized, expressed, or embodied correctly (e.g., being called the right pronoun or seeing oneself after chest surgery).
  • Transition: The personal process of living as one’s authentic gender. This can be social (name, pronouns, clothing), legal (ID documents), and/or medical (hormones, surgery). There is no single "right" way to transition.
  • Pronouns: Words used to refer to someone in the third person (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them, ze/zir). Always use the pronouns a person shares with you.

    • Gen Z has embraced a fluid understanding of both sexuality and gender. In youth LGBTQ culture, the rigid lines between "gay," "bi," and "trans" are blurring. Many young people identify as "queer" as a catch-all. This generation sees gender-neutral pronouns, non-binary identities, and trans inclusion as default settings, not political asks.

    While the "L," "G," and "B" refer to sexual orientation (who you love), the "T" refers to gender identity (who you are). This distinction is critical.