The modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement was fueled by the Stonewall riots in New York City, where transgender women of color, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people stood together against police brutality.
Transgender and gender-nonconforming roles existed in many societies long before modern terminology. Examples include the Navajo nádleehi and Zuni lhamana in North America, as well as various third-gender roles in African societies.
Transgender identities are understood to be influenced by a complex interplay of biological factors (including genetic influences and prenatal hormone levels) as well as early and later life experiences.
The story of the transgender community and its place within LGBTQ culture is a long, complex journey from historical marginalization and pre-colonial acceptance to modern advocacy for rights and recognition.