In recent years, the transgender community has faced new challenges, including a surge in anti-trans legislation and rhetoric. Despite these obstacles, the community has continued to mobilize and advocate for their rights. The 2010s saw a significant increase in visibility and awareness, with more transgender individuals sharing their stories and advocating for change.

, who identified as non-binary and used they/them pronouns. Despite the decades between them, the thread of their experiences pulled them into a tight-knit tapestry.

Elena realized she was looking at a grassroots effort to build a visual history. In a world that barely acknowledged their existence, these women were creating their own galleries of proof. They were updating their archives to say, We are here, we are beautiful, and we are not alone.

Refers to who you are attracted to (sexual orientation). T (Transgender): Refers to who you are (gender identity).

To separate the transgender community from LGBTQ culture would be like removing red from the rainbow. The spectrum would be incomplete. From the bricks thrown at Stonewall to the vogue balls of Harlem, from the fight for pronoun recognition to the battle for life-saving healthcare, trans people have not just participated in queer culture—they have led it.