: Johnson and Rivera co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) in 1970, the first organization in the U.S. to provide a shelter and dedicated support for homeless queer youth . Key Cultural Concepts & Terminology
| Misconception | Fact | |---------------|------| | "There are only two genders." | Many cultures throughout history have recognized third, fourth, or non-binary genders (e.g., Two-Spirit in some Indigenous cultures, hijras in South Asia). | | "Being trans is a choice." | Gender identity is not a choice. What is a choice is whether and how to express or transition. | | "All trans people have surgery." | Many trans people do not want or cannot access surgery. Medical transition is personal and varies widely. | | "Trans women are a threat in bathrooms." | No data supports this. Trans people face far higher rates of harassment and violence in public restrooms than cisgender people. | sany shemale
: Before the famous 1969 Stonewall Riots, trans women and drag queens led the 1959 Cooper Do-nuts Riot in Los Angeles and the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in San Francisco to protest police harassment . : Johnson and Rivera co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite