Originating in the Black and Latine trans communities of New York City, ballroom culture gave us "voguing," "slay," and the concept of "chosen families."

The term "transgender" was first coined in the 1940s by psychiatrist David Caul, and it was initially used to describe individuals who identified as a different gender than the one assigned to them at birth. The 1950s and 1960s saw a growing awareness of trans issues, with the establishment of organizations such as the Mattachine Society, which aimed to support and advocate for LGBTQ individuals.