: A core distinction is that transgender identity is rooted in gender identity —one's internal sense of being male, female, or another gender—rather than sexual orientation.

The transgender community is a diverse and resilient segment of the broader LGBTQ culture, often serving as a vanguard for gender liberation while simultaneously facing unique and acute forms of marginalization.

: Research indicates that some transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals feel excluded even within LGBTQ spaces, perceiving them as unwelcoming or primarily focused on the needs of cisgender individuals.