, who became the first prominent American to undergo sex reassignment surgery in 1952. The Rise of "Transgender"

As we look to the future, the strength of the rainbow flag will be tested by how well it protects its trans stripes—specifically the light blue, light pink, and white of the Transgender Pride Flag. For those outside the community, the lesson is simple: You cannot support LGBTQ rights without supporting transgender rights. They are not separate movements. They are the same fight for the same fundamental truth: that every human being has the right to love and to live authentically as themselves.

: Transgender adults, particularly people of colour, experience higher rates of poverty; for example, approximately 29% of trans adults in the U.S. live in poverty.