In this special series, LGBT celebrities and public figures talk to Tim Teeman about the Stonewall Riots and their legacy—see more here.

Bob the Drag Queen is winner of season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

How and when did you first hear about the Stonewall Riots, and what did you make of them?

I don’t remember. I feel like as a queer person, it’s always been in the back of my mind.

What significance do they hold for you now?

I feel like for me the Stonewall Riots are as significant as my queerness itself. The Stonewall Riots are truly a cornerstone of the modern queer rights movement.

How far have LGBT people come since 1969?

I wasn’t around in 1969, so I can only base this off what I have read, or seen photos and clips of film of. In terms of how far we’ve come, I know that people feel more comfortable to be openly queer in more spaces now.

What would you like to see, LGBT-wise, in the next 50 years?

I love the progress of the queer rights movement in the last 50 years. I would love for it to truly include our trans siblings more than it has in the past. I think the trans community is the last community in the queer community to truly gain the respect they deserve.