Some key figures and events in the history of the transgender community and LGBTQ culture include:

Updating a driver’s license or birth certificate is a labyrinthine process that varies wildly by jurisdiction. For many in the , coming out is a social act. For trans people, coming out often requires a legal act—proving to a judge that they have transitioned to get a new ID, which is necessary to vote, work, or travel.

Pioneered by Black and Latine trans women and queer youth in Harlem during the late 20th century, ballroom culture created "houses" that served as alternative families. This culture gave birth to voguing, runway categories, and linguistic terms like "spilling tea," "throwing shade," and "work."