. Transgender people can have any sexual orientation (e.g., a trans woman may be gay, straight, or bisexual). Non-Binary/Genderqueer

Originating in Harlem during the late 20th century, the Ballroom scene was created by Black and Latine trans women and gay men who were excluded from white-dominated beauty pageants. Led by iconic figures like Crystal LaBeija, Ballroom became a sanctuary. "Houses" acted as chosen families, led by a House Mother or Father who provided shelter and mentorship to queer youth. The competitive balls featured categories like "realness," runway walking, and the creation of "voguing"—a stylized dance form later popularized by mainstream artists. Language and Shared Vocabulary

The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement was not born in a vacuum; it was forged through the radical activism of transgender people, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latine trans women. For decades, gender-nonconforming individuals bore the brunt of police brutality and societal ostracization.

It was not until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the "T" was systematically and permanently integrated into major advocacy groups, renaming them as LGBTQ+ organisations to reflect a unified front.