To speak of the transgender community and LGBTQ culture is not to speak of two separate entities, but of a vital organ within a living body. The "T" has never been a silent passenger in the alphabet; it has often been the compass, the conscience, and the courageous edge of a broader movement for sexual and gender liberation.

The future, however, will require continued activism, advocacy, and education. It will involve:

: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual refer to sexual orientation (who you are attracted to).

: Gender-diverse roles have existed for millennia, such as the kathoey in Thailand, hijra in South Asia, and khanith in the Arabian Peninsula.

Originating in the Black and Latine trans communities of New York City, ballroom culture gave us "voguing," "slay," and the concept of "chosen families."