Ming struck up a conversation with the café owner, a kind-hearted woman named Lily. Lily was passionate about creating a space where people could express themselves freely. As they talked, Ming shared their artistic interests and their desire to explore themes of identity and culture in their work.

In the 1960s, police raids on gay bars were routine, but trans people—especially trans women—were frequent targets of legal harassment. "Cross-dressing" laws were used to arrest anyone whose clothing did not align with their assigned sex at birth. When the Stonewall Inn erupted in protest, it was Black and Latina trans sex workers who threw the first punches and bricks.

: For many TGW in China, performing femininity in videos is a tool to attract clients, providing a sense of power and being desired despite social vulnerability.

People whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-binary/Genderqueer: