Trans, nonbinary, gender-expansive, and Two-Spirit people are diverse communities with many histories, cultures, and experiences.
This page is a starting point for understanding that diversity and connecting it to real movement history, especially Stonewall and the generations of trans and gender-nonconforming organizers who fought for survival and dignity.
Stonewall and trans resistance
Stonewall is central to modern LGBTQ+ liberation history, and trans people – including trans women of color and other gender-nonconforming people – were part of that resistance. Stonewall should be taught as a collective uprising, not a single-story event.
- National Park Service – Stonewall Uprising
- Library of Congress – LGBTQ Pride Month
- Marsha P. Johnson (contextual history)
- Sylvia Rivera (contextual history)
Diversity across identities and communities
There is no single trans experience. People may identify as transgender, nonbinary, gender-expansive, gender non-conforming, or Two-Spirit, among many other identities. Race, disability, class, immigration status, age, faith, and geography all shape what safety and access look like.
Two-Spirit is a specific term rooted in Indigenous cultures and should be understood in that context, not as a generic replacement for trans or nonbinary identities.
Learn more
- National Center for Transgender Equality – About Transgender People
- ACLU LGBTQ Rights
- GSAFE Wisconsin
- HRC – Understanding the Transgender Community
Last updated: 2026-03-02. This page is educational and community-focused.
Further reading and support resources: Planned Parenthood Wisconsin – Wisconsin & national trans+ resource list