What does it mean to be travesti? This uniquely Latin American term defies simple translation into English, but its origins lie in the Spanish verb travestir, meaning "to cross-dress." While it shares some similarities with the term "transgender"—in this case referring to individuals assigned male at birth who embrace a feminine gender identity—travesti also holds many other distinct cultural and political connotations. Historically, the word was wielded as a slur, used to marginalize or dehumanize trans individuals and reinforce their social vulnerability and exclusion from fundamental rights. Over the past few decades, however, activists across countries like Peru, Brazil, and Argentina reclaimed travesti, transformed it into a term of pride and resistance, and adopted it as a rejection of colonial notions of the gender binary. Among these activists, Lohana Berkins emerged as a leader and trailblazer, championing the rights of travestis and transgender individuals in Argentina. Through her relentless activism, Berkins not only inspired significant legislative reforms within her home country, but also founded various institutions that continue to support the trans community today, cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in the fight for social justice.