“Oh, my goodness! Did you hear about that, guy or perhaps, girl? He's dating James. I can't believe it! He, or she, can be quite irritating. He knows I am interested in James, and she does not even conform to gender norms.”

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         Are you confused, because I am. I mean, why would a gay person have transphobic tendencies? Are these two terms not related to one another? The acronym for LGBTQ is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning. This is a group of people who prefer to be with someone of the same gender as themselves. They prefer not to engage in sex, go out on dates or both. They also do not identify with the gender assigned to them by birth or they just simply are unsure of who they are. They might even change their identity in the future. 

         I am a gay person myself. I am also a non-binary. I have a very masculine appearance. I have been put into situations wherein gay people have assumed I want to support LGB, not LGBT. I have then explained to them that I am non-binary. I've also explained to them that sexual identity and gender identity have a long history. This history is a complicated one and sexual identity and gender identity have long been intertwined. One simply cannot be without the other. 

So today, let’s discuss queer history. We are going to detail some of the many prominent protests for queer rights that have occurred in the United States. We are also going to discuss what would happen if we were to favor LGB over T. And finally, we are going to discuss what could potentially transpire within the LGBTQ community if we, both inside and outside of it, do not cease our transphobic tendencies.

         It is a common mistake for many to believe that being gay and transgender is a modern phenomenon. The truth of the matter is that it is not. If we are to discuss transgender history, we can refer to the two-spirited tradition of various Native American cultures, including the Zuni, as well as the Hijra of South Asia. There is also the controversy regarding Achilles and Patroclus—were they lovers or merely close friends? A notable Japanese shunga woodblock print from approximately 1765–1770, created by artist Suzuki Harunobu depicts two women embracing and kissing in a private room. The point? Queer is not a new phenomenon, despite what many believe.

         After World War 2, up to the 1960s, a period of time called the Lavender Scare caused US citizens to be fearful of homosexuals in the government and in day-to-day life. After Eisenhower became president, he enacted Executive Order 10450, adding “sexual perversion” to the list of national security threats, allowing many to be fired. The “sexual perversion” is in reference to anything outside of the normal heterosexual norm and desire. Because of this, seven to ten thousand queer people were fired or forced to resign from their federal job and allow police raids onto queer spaces. This brings me to the Stonewall raids, arguably one of the most important trans rights and just civil rights for the LGBTQ in the history of the world. The people who have been mainly credited to have led the stonewall riots are Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and Stormé DeLarverie. According to Black Information Network, “on June 24, 1969, NYPD officers arrested employees and confiscated alcohol in an attempt to shut down the bar completely [but]… when police raided the Stonewall Inn again, patrons resisted the officers, and a crowd of bystanders formed” (Black Information Network 2024). On June 28 through July 3, riots against the hatred queer people faced would rage through the streets of Lower Manhattan. And because of the riots and publication of queer people in New York City, similar riots and activism would be sparked across the USA. It caused a push for queer acceptance and rights, leading to multiple different laws and acts to be passed, albeit after decades of fighting. The two most important were: Obergefell v. Hodges and Bostock v. Clayton County, the first one ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in all 50 states and the second one prevented employers from discriminating against both gay and trans people.

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         Now, you have heard me go on about the past of the LGBTQ and a few court cases, but you may be asking, why do some gay people have a tendency to not accept trans people? The LGB Alliance can help answer that. Despite already having LGBT activist groups in the UK, such as LGBT Foundation, The Albert Kennedy Trust, Gendered Intelligence, and many more, Bev Jackson and Kate Harris decided to make a group, directly excluding the T. To quote from LGB Alliance UK, “We provide information, community and support to LGB people in a world where being lesbian, gay or bisexual is, once again, under threat” (LGB Alliance UK n.d.). When I first read this, I was initially in agreement with them, but the more I read the more I became disgusted. “Transing the gay away”, is the subject line from them in an email sent to pro-LGBTQ+ priests signing an open letter to oppose conversion therapy. They say that being trans is “a cruel form of conversion therapy”, specifically for gay people, because they could actually be gay, and by forcing them to be trans, homophobes can keep the heteronormativity of relationships (LGB Alliance UK n.d.). Their hearts are in the right place, but their demonization and misunderstanding of trans people keeps it from being an actual good cause and is actively hurting transpeople instead.

         Now especially more than ever, the LGBTQ+, specifically Trans and Non-Binary people, are having our rights taken away. In Tennessee alone, there has been 148 bills that have passed since 2022 according to the Trans Legislation Tracker. Texas has 208 since 2023, California, the state that is made fun of for being too woke and trans, has 13 since 2023. Since 2022, every single state has passed Anti-Trans laws. One of the most notable bills is Tennessee’s HB0571 bill, enacted on February 3rd, 2025. The law, named the "Woman’s Safety Act," bases sex on being either male or female, not personal gender identity. It is claimed to protect women and girls from sexual assault in areas such as bathrooms, dorms, and the like. Though the law appears to have benefits, it must be analyzed beyond surface-level examination. It does not require a woman to identify as a woman to access these areas, and the argument that a sign, such as "Women’s Only," will prevent sex offenders from entering these areas is debatable. The emphasis on protecting women and children could lead to the passage of more limiting anti-trans legislation. As history has shown, when one group is persecuted, another will become the focus, a phenomenon that has been seen time and time again.

         I see the fate of millions of people’s futures resting in the hands of rulers who've denounced them as demons, that someone like them and me are not deserving of human rights. We the LGBTQ have existed for as long as sentient beings have been around and we will continue to be around. The question is if I will have to tell everyone that I am a friend of Dorothy or have a pink triangle on my clothing. It is all dependent on how humanity wants to see the history of us, know the impact of gay people trying to separate from and demonize trans people, and the implications of the laws passed against trans people.