When Stonewall occurred in 1969, the frontline fighters were not the affluent, closeted white men, but rather "street queens"—trans women of color, like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Johnson, a self-identified drag queen and trans activist, is often credited with "throwing the shot glass" that started the uprising. Rivera later famously fought to include "drag queens, transvestites, and street people" in early gay rights legislation when mainstream gay organizations tried to leave them behind.
Despite these advances, the transgender community continues to face significant challenges. Transgender individuals are disproportionately affected by violence, with a high rate of homicides and suicides within the community. They also face barriers to healthcare, employment, and housing, due in part to discrimination and stigma. shemale carla bruna