There is a phrase often repeated in LGBTQ+ spaces: “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”

LGBTQ+ culture is not just about sexuality (who you love); it is about gender identity (who you are). Without the trans community, the "T" in our acronym would be an empty letter. The freedom to express oneself outside of rigid societal norms—a core tenet of queer culture—exists largely because trans people refused to stay in the boxes assigned to them at birth. Life inside the transgender community is a study in duality.

If a trans person tells you a joke is transphobic, believe them. If a trans person explains that a certain policy harms them, listen. The best allyship is not a savior complex; it is a support structure.

To understand LGBTQ+ culture, you must understand trans history. To celebrate Pride, you must stand with trans people—not just in June, but every single day of the year. For decades, transgender activists have been the backbone of queer liberation. From Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two trans women of color who threw bricks at Stonewall, to the modern-day advocates fighting discriminatory healthcare laws—trans people have always been on the front lines.