While many closeted gay people fear being "read" (identified as gay), the stakes for a trans person being "clocked" (identified as trans) can be lethal. Gay culture, particularly in urban centers, has often celebrated flamboyance and visibility. Trans culture, especially for binary trans men and women, often centers on stealth —the ability to move through the world without anyone knowing one’s trans history.

The transgender community is a diverse group of individuals whose gender identity—their internal sense of being male, female, or another gender—differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

This tension is the original sin of modern LGBTQ culture. The transgender community provided the fuel (radical, visible, defiant non-conformity), while the early gay movement often tried to steer the car toward a safer destination.

While sharing some challenges with LGB people (e.g., family rejection, workplace discrimination), trans people face distinct crises: