The modern transgender rights movement has its roots in the 1950s and 1960s, when individuals like Christine Jorgensen and Marsha P. Johnson began to challenge societal norms and expectations around gender. The Stonewall riots of 1969, which are often considered the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ rights movement, were also a pivotal moment for the transgender community. Transgender individuals, particularly trans women of color, played a key role in the uprising against police brutality and harassment.