The transgender community and LGBTQ culture are deeply interconnected, sharing a historical foundation of resistance and a continuing fight for civil rights. While "transgender" is an umbrella term for those whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, this community is a vital part of the broader LGBTQIA+ spectrum, which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, and asexual identities.

The term "transgender" was popularized in the 1960s to distinguish gender identity from sexual orientation and was widely adopted by the 2000s as part of the LGBT acronym. Key Concepts and Terminology Defining LGBTQ+ - The Center

Transgender and gender-nonconforming people, notably women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera , were instrumental in the Stonewall Inn riots, which catalyzed the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

Transgender people have existed throughout history and across various cultures, often occupying recognized "third gender" roles such as the in South Asia or Two-Spirit individuals in Indigenous North American cultures.