Both gay men and trans women have been historically targeted by "walking while trans" or "solicitation of same-sex acts" laws. Police raids on gay bars were simultaneously raids on trans gathering places. The fight to repeal "panic defenses" (legal strategies that argue a killer panicked upon discovering a victim was gay or trans) is a joint effort.

Navigating the industry as a trans woman of color often involves balancing visibility with safety.

Moving away from negative perceptions of weight and toward a celebration of "abundance" and confidence.

This led to a painful but productive tension. Transgender activists fought for visibility, arguing that the fight for sexual orientation freedom (who you love) is intrinsically linked to the fight for gender freedom (who you are). By the 1990s and 2000s, the “LGBT” acronym became standard, acknowledging that transgender people face unique forms of discrimination—often from within the queer community itself.

For LGBTQ culture to thrive, the 'T' cannot be a silent partner. It has to be the loud, proud, complicated sibling it has always been.