Transgender and gender-variant identities have existed across global cultures for millennia, though terminology has evolved.

The term "transgender" gained prominence in the 1960s to distinguish gender identity from sexual orientation. By the 1990s, "LGB" transitioned to "LGBT" to formally include transgender individuals in liberation activism. II. Transgender People within LGBTQ Culture

Transgender people of color, particularly Black and Latine trans women, face compounded oppression. This intersectionality leads to significantly higher rates of unemployment (up to 4x the general population for Black trans individuals) and poverty.

Gender identity (internal sense of self) is distinct from sexual orientation (attraction). A transgender person may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or asexual.