The modern transgender rights movement has its roots in the 1950s and 1960s, when trans individuals like Christine Jorgensen and Marsha P. Johnson began to speak out against discriminatory laws and social norms. The Stonewall riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ rights movement, were sparked in part by the actions of trans women of color, including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. These early activists paved the way for future generations of trans individuals to fight for their rights and visibility.