A common point of confusion within broader culture is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.
During the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s, transgender individuals—particularly trans women who had sex with men—were among the hardest hit. Yet, when the history of ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) is told, the narrative often centers on cisgender gay men. Trans activists like (the "TransGriot") worked tirelessly to document that trans people were dying, organizing, and leading. This era cemented a painful dynamic: the trans community was doing the work but not getting the credit.