Link to a profile of Rochester's transgender community.

Link to City Newspaper's 2009 Pride Guide.

It's an exciting, though uncertain, time for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, both nationally and locally. Even as the battle for marriage equality seems to look more promising on a state-by-state basis, reports of hate crimes still surface from across the country. Locally, as gay marriage bills seemed poised to pass through the State Legislature, the recent turmoil in Albany may have put that vote in jeopardy.

Looking back, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City, when patrons of the same-named gay bar stood up to cops after years of harassment and brought the gay rights movement to mainstream attention. It's also the 20th anniversary of Rochester's gay pride celebration, now the second-largest in the state. There's no question that we've come far in the intervening decades. But it's equally certain that there's a long way to go.

In this, City's annual Gay Pride Issue, you'll find information on the Rochester transgender community, which faces its own unique struggles even among the larger LGB community. You'll also find information about the various Pride Week events, from parades to festivals to church services to parties.