The trans community introduced the mainstream (and the rest of the LGBTQ spectrum) to the concept of cisgender (identifying with the sex assigned at birth). By naming cisness as a specific state, trans culture de-centered the assumption that biology is destiny.

Furthermore, trans thinkers and activists popularized the idea that gender identity (who you are) is distinct from sexual orientation (who you are attracted to). This distinction has allowed for the explosion of identities under the 2SLGBTQIA+ umbrella—from non-binary to genderfluid to agender.

This linguistic expansion has benefited everyone. A cisgender lesbian can now understand that her masculinity is a gender expression, not a failed attempt to be male. A gay man can embrace his femininity without fear of "becoming transgender." The flexibility of modern queer identity owes a direct debt to trans scholarship and lived experience.

Modern LGBTQ culture, led by trans activists, has embraced an intersectional framework. You cannot separate transphobia from racism, classism, and misogyny. The murder rates for Black and Indigenous trans women are catastrophic. Consequently, Pride marches have transformed into political protests against police brutality and housing discrimination, rather than simply celebrations of corporate sponsorship.

Despite these contributions, the last decade has seen a resurgence of anti-trans sentiment within the LGBTQ community. The rise of trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) and "LGB drop the T" movements represents a deep schism in queer culture.

LGBTQ culture has historically been about the right to love. Trans culture is forcing the movement to center the right to exist in a body.