In mainstream culture, family is blood. In LGBTQ+ culture, family is chosen. For trans individuals—who face family rejection at disproportionately high rates (40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, with trans youth at extreme risk)—the chosen family is a survival mechanism. The ballroom culture (featured in Pose and Paris is Burning ) was built by trans women of color. The "house" structures, the unique slang ( slay , shade , realness ), and the emphasis on walking your own runway all originated from trans and gender-nonconforming pioneers.
: Transgender individuals often face higher rates of discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare . shemaleporno 2021
The push for gender-neutral pronouns (they/them/ze) and inclusive language originated within trans and non-binary circles and has since permeated mainstream corporate and social environments. In mainstream culture, family is blood