Pride Month: 6 Things You Didn’t Know About the Transgender Community And Why They Matter

June is a time of celebration, reflection, and action. Pride Month reminds us to honor the vibrancy of LGBTQ+ lives, while also committing to truth-telling and advocacy. This is more important than ever in the face of misinformation, dwindling DEI, and growing hostility toward the transgender community.

While everyone in the community is valuable and deserves to be seen, I want to focus on our trans friends and family. There’s been an avalanche of harmful rhetoric aimed at trans people, particularly trans youth. But here’s the thing: much of it doesn’t reflect the truth of how the majority of people actually feel or how trans people actually live.

So, in the spirit of clarity and care, here are six things you might not know about the transgender community along with some personal reflections from my time as a Trevor Lifeline volunteer.

1. Most Americans support trans rights

Let’s get one thing straight: the anti-trans narrative doesn’t speak for everyone.

According to a 2024 poll from Navigator Research, a strong majority of Americans support laws that protect transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, healthcare, education, and the workplace. Despite what certain headlines would have you believe, most people aren’t bothered by how others live their truth, they’re bothered by injustice.

So when you hear anti-trans talking points shouted on the news or plastered on social media, remember: the loudest voices aren’t always the truest.

2. Trans youth are struggling and they need us

It’s hard to overstate the weight trans youth carry. In the Trevor Project’s 2024 national survey, nearly 1-in-2 transgender and nonbinary young people said they seriously considered suicide in the past year. These are not just statistics; they’re lives.

And I know that, because I’ve had the honor of hearing their stories and struggles.

As a volunteer for The Trevor Project, a suicide-prevention organization headquartered in Los Angeles, I’ve heard firsthand the fear in a young person’s voice when they wonder whether their identity will cost them their family, their school, or their safety. What they need most isn’t scrutiny, it’s support.

3. Discrimination is still widespread

While there’s progress, we can’t ignore the daily discrimination trans people face. A recent national report found that nearly three-in-four transgender adults experience significant mental health impacts from discrimination. Many also report being denied healthcare or mistreated at work simply because of who they are.

And yet, they persist. They continue to show up in the world as themselves. That kind of bravery should be celebrated, not condemned.

4. Affirming spaces save lives

Here’s a fact that should guide everything we do: when trans youth are affirmed in their identities, their mental health outcomes improve dramatically.

Whether it’s being called by the right name, allowed to wear what makes them feel like themselves, or simply feeling safe at school, access to affirming environments lowers the risk of suicide - 54% of those who found their school to be gender-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide - and increases self-esteem. Just being respected, something everyone deserves, can change and ultimately save a life.

5. Gender isn’t binary, it’s a spectrum

One of the most important things to understand about gender is that it’s not binary. This was a key part of my Trevor Project training and I hope to impart some helpful information that probably goes against traditional gender norms we were taught growing up.

First, gender isn’t just “man” or “woman”. It exists across a wide, rich spectrum. Some people identify strongly with masculinity or femininity. Others may feel somewhere in between, outside of, or fluidly across that spectrum. This is true not just for nonbinary individuals, but for many trans people as well. 

The journey of a transgender person is just that, a journey. Where someone is in their transition (whether socially, medically, or emotionally) doesn’t always align with society’s assumptions about what “a man” or “a woman” is supposed to look like. Clothing, voice, body language, or physical traits may not “match” your expectations and that’s okay. There’s no one way to be trans, and there’s no one way to be human.

This is where pronouns matter so deeply. Using the right pronouns isn’t about being politically correct, it’s about showing someone the respect of being seen as who they are. If you’re unsure of someone’s pronouns, it’s okay to ask respectfully or introduce your own as an invitation: “Hi, I’m Daniel, I use He/Him pronouns.” It’s a small gesture that can go a long way in building trust and affirming identity.

When we let go of rigid ideas about gender, we open the door to deeper connection, compassion, and authenticity for ourselves and for others.

6. Transitioning is the journey back to yourself

I’ll never forget one conversation I had on the Lifeline. A young trans teen, quiet and vulnerable, offered a metaphor about what it feels like to be trans that still moves me to this day:

That’s what it felt like, they said, to live in a body that didn’t align with who they are inside. A lightbulb really went off after I heard that, it was so simple and honest. I thought if more people listened to the trans experience maybe more light bulbs would go off. This conversation reminded me that being transgender is about real people just trying to feel at home in themselves.

So, what can you do?

Being an ally doesn’t require a megaphone. It starts with listening, learning, and standing up in small, consistent ways. Here’s how:

• Educate yourself: don’t rely on news or clickbait. Listen to trans voices. Read and watch their stories. Understand their reality.

• Challenge misinformation: speak up when you hear transphobic remarks, even in casual settings.

• Create affirming spaces: at home, at work, and in your community. Make it clear that everyone is safe to be themselves.

• Support organizations doing the work: The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, and local LGBTQ+ centers need resources to continue supporting youth.

Educational resources: novels and documentaries

Novels:

• "Detransition, Baby" by Torrey Peters. This critically acclaimed novel explores the complexities of gender, parenthood, and relationships through the lives of transgender and cisgender characters.

• "Nevada" by Imogen Binnie. A groundbreaking work in transgender literature, this novel follows a trans woman navigating life and identity, offering raw and insightful perspectives.

• “American Teenager” by Nico Lang. From an award-winning journalist comes a vivid and moving portrait of eight trans and nonbinary teenagers across the country, following their daily triumphs, struggles, and all that encompasses growing up trans in America today.

Documentaries:

• "Disclosure" (2020). Available on Netflix, this documentary examines the history of transgender representation in film and television, featuring interviews with prominent trans actors and activists.

• "Enigma" (2025). Premiering on HBO, "Enigma" delves into the lives of iconic transgender figures from the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting their contributions and challenges in the entertainment industry.

Pride is about showing up

At its heart, Pride is about visibility, resilience, and love. It’s about showing up for each other when it matters most. Trans people deserve the same dignity and peace we all seek. And while their fight may be magnified in this moment, it’s not theirs alone.

So let’s show up. With facts. With compassion. With open hearts.

Happy Pride 🌈 You are seen. You are valued. You belong.