The modern transgender movement has its roots in the mid-20th century, with the work of pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen, who became one of the first Americans to undergo sex reassignment surgery in 1952. However, it wasn't until the 1990s that the transgender community began to gain more visibility and recognition, with the establishment of organizations such as the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the Transgender Law Center (TLC).