The transgender community faces a fundamentally different axis of oppression. A trans person’s struggle is rarely about marriage equality; it is about bodily autonomy and public existence . While a gay man can hide his sexuality by not mentioning his partner, a trans person cannot hide their gender identity when they need to apply for a job, see a doctor, or use a restroom.
In 2024 and beyond, anti-LGBTQ legislation targets trans healthcare and drag performance (which is conflated with trans identity) almost exclusively. When the far-right attacks, they no longer say "gay agenda"; they say "transgender ideology." This has forced the L, G, and B communities to realize that the thin end of the wedge is always the most vulnerable. If they allow the T to be removed, their own rights will be next.
A small but vocal minority of cisgender gay people argue that trans inclusion muddies the "sexual orientation only" mission. They often cite concerns about "erasing same-sex attraction" by allowing trans men who love men, or trans women who love women, into gay and lesbian spaces. Mainstream LGBTQ organizations have overwhelmingly rejected this as bigoted and historically illiterate.