Despite their heroism, the decades following Stonewall saw a fracturing of priorities. The 1970s and 80s saw the rise of "Gay Liberation," which often prioritized the rights of white, middle-class gay men and lesbians. During the AIDS crisis, the transgender community stood alongside gay men in hospice care and activism. Yet, as the mainstream gay movement pivoted toward "marriage equality" in the 2000s, many transgender activists felt left behind. The fight for marriage was a fight for legal recognition of existing relationships; the fight for transgender rights often involved the more fundamental battle for physical safety and medical access.
The rainbow flag is one of the most recognizable symbols on the planet. To the outside observer, it represents a monolith: "the gay community." But for those within the fold, the flag is a spectrum in the truest sense—a collection of distinct identities, histories, and struggles bound together by a common thread of resistance against heteronormativity. At the heart of this spectrum lies the transgender community, a group whose relationship with mainstream LGBTQ culture is both foundational and, at times, complex. Despite their heroism, the decades following Stonewall saw
Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, two transgender women of colour, were central figures in the uprising and subsequent organizing. Yet, as the mainstream gay movement pivoted toward
Developed voguing, ballroom pageantry, and radical gender performance styles. To the outside observer, it represents a monolith: