But standing at the edge of the parade route, Jaylen, a 24-year-old Black trans man, isn’t waving a flag. He’s holding a sign that reads: “Pride was a Riot. Let Us Stay.”

Perhaps the biggest change is happening among the youth. The number of Gen Z adults who identify as transgender or non-binary has doubled in the last decade. For these young people, the old divisions between “gay,” “bi,” and “trans” are dissolving.

The transgender community has a rich and complex history that spans centuries. In ancient cultures, such as Greece and Rome, there were records of individuals who identified as a different gender than their assigned sex at birth. However, it wasn't until the 20th century that the term "transgender" was coined, and the community began to organize and advocate for their rights.