When we protect the "T," we protect the core of what Pride stands for: liberation from the boxes society puts us in. Are you a member of the trans community or an ally? Let us know your thoughts on the intersection of these identities in the comments below.

For decades, mainstream media confused the public by conflating drag performance (performance art), trans identity (identity), and homosexuality (attraction). Untangling that knot is the first step to being a good ally. Despite the differences, our histories are permanently intertwined. The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement is often traced back to the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. The two most famous figures of that riot? Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera —two self-identified transgender women (Johnson identified as a drag queen and transvestite, a term of the era; Rivera as a trans woman).

Recently, the "T" (Transgender) has been at the center of a lot of public conversation. But to truly understand the transgender community, we have to look at how they fit into—and sometimes stand apart from—the broader "gay culture" we see on TV. This is the single most important fact to start with: Being transgender is about who you are. Being L,G, or B is about who you love.

When we look at the acronym LGBTQ+, it’s easy to see it as one unified group. And in many ways, we are—united by a history of fighting for the right to love freely and exist authentically. However, within that beautiful, sprawling umbrella, each community has its own unique weather patterns, struggles, and celebrations.