In the context of modern Western LGBTQ culture, the transgender community was the literal front line of the liberation movement. The , often cited as the birth of the modern movement, was spearheaded by trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera . For decades, trans individuals provided the "muscle" and the passion for a movement that, at times, sought to marginalize them in favor of "respectability politics." Today, the culture has shifted toward acknowledging that without the bravery of trans activists, the progress made in gay and lesbian rights would not have been possible. Transgender Identity Within Queer Spaces