There’s a saying within our community: “You don’t have to understand it to respect it.”

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Want to learn more? Drop a 🏳️‍⚧️ in the comments, and I’ll DM you a list of trans creators to follow.

You cannot have LGBTQ+ history without trans history. You cannot have a Pride parade that celebrates "authenticity" while excluding those whose authenticity looks different from your own.

But for those who want to go a step further—who want to be allies, not just friends—understanding is the goal. Today, let’s talk specifically about the relationship between the transgender community and the broader LGBTQ+ culture.

Beyond the Acronym: Understanding the 'T' in LGBTQ+

To our trans siblings: We see you. Your identity is not a debate. Your existence is resistance, and your joy is revolutionary.

A common misconception is that transgender identity is a recent addition to queer culture. In reality, trans people have always been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ history. From Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera—trans women of color who threw the first bricks at Stonewall—to the modern fight for healthcare and safety, the "T" isn't a newcomer. We are the backbone.

To everyone else: Pride isn't just rainbows and corporate logos. It’s a promise to protect the most vulnerable in our alphabet. Keep that promise.

It is vital to acknowledge that the experience of a cisgender gay man and a transgender woman are different. Within LGBTQ+ spaces, transphobia has historically existed and sadly still does.