So as you light up your barbecues and put the hot dogs (or veggie dogs for you vegans) on the grill, you have a lot to be proud about. This has been a year of great strides in transgender rights, and we are only halfway through it. Transgender Americans can now fight for their country without having to hide their true identities. They will have access to essential healthcare and will be addressed by their proper pronouns. These are basic rights that are a long time in the making. Our transgender brothers, sisters and all those within the spectrum fought for everyone else’s. They deserve to be recognized for who they really are. So celebrate, be proud of all we have accomplished. For our transgender soldiers, they can finally celebrate their independence, 240 years after it all began with a simple declaration. The transgender community has indeed been part of the fabric that is the United States. We are as American as apple pie. We always have been. We always will be. We just refuse to hide anymore.