Originated in 1920s-60s Harlem by Black and Latinx queer/trans youth excluded from white gay spaces. House system, voguing, categories (including "Realness" categories). Popularized by Paris is Burning (1990) and Pose (2018). A foundational part of trans and LGBTQ+ cultural history.
| If you want to know… | Key point | | :--- | :--- | | Am I trans? | Only you can decide. Dysphoria isn’t required – euphoria matters more. | | What’s nonbinary? | A gender identity outside the man/woman binary. | | Is being trans a mental disorder? | No. Gender dysphoria can be distressing, but being trans is not a disorder (WHO: removed from ICD-11 in 2019). | | Do all trans people have surgery? | No. Many don’t want it or can’t access it. | | Can kids be trans? | Yes – children have stable gender identities by age 3-5. Social transition (name, pronouns) is reversible and beneficial. | | How do I support trans youth? | Believe them, use their name/pronouns, advocate for them at school, find them community. | super star shemale fixed
This guide is a living document. Language and cultural norms evolve. The most respectful thing you can do is listen to trans people, center their voices, and be willing to learn. Originated in 1920s-60s Harlem by Black and Latinx
According to the Human Rights Campaign, 2024 saw a record number of fatal violent attacks against transgender people, the majority of whom were Black and Latina trans women. This is not a separate issue from homophobic violence; it is the same beast wearing a different mask. The murder of a trans woman is inextricably linked to the societal homophobia and toxic masculinity that also targets gay men. When the LGBTQ community rallies against hate crimes, the trans community reminds them that "gay panic" defenses often intersect with "trans panic" defenses. | If you want to know… | Key
The gay rights movement famously fought for HIV/AIDS funding and the right to marry. The trans community fights for the right to exist in a doctor's office. Transgender individuals face staggering rates of healthcare denial, from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to mental health services. In the U.S., a wave of legislation in the early 2020s targeted gender-affirming care for minors, creating a crisis that forced LGBTQ advocacy groups to pivot from marriage equality battles to battles over basic pediatric medicine.