The transgender community has made great strides in recent years, but there is still a long way to go when it comes to equal rights and acceptance. NY1's Ruschell Boone filed the following report as part of Pride Week.

Tia Carta has always known she was female on the inside. Now that she has transitioned, it's important that she looks like a woman on the outside. She says for many transgender women, their safety depends on it.

"Because some people are ignorant and will, you know, try to verbally or, you know, even physically attack you," Carta said.

While there is a lot of focus on the comminity and a major push for equality, she says there is still a lot of discrimination, even within the gay community.

"When the gays go in and fight for their rights and they fight for the things that they want, the transgenders are not always included, and so then again, we have to kind of go knocking at the door, too, saying, 'Hey, we're here too. We deserve these rights too. Let us in too," Carta said. "So there is. You have a lot of gay people who don't agree with being trans."

Tia is a health and self esteem coach. She also volunteers at the Community Healthcare Network, a nonprofit services group that provides health and social services. Freddy Molano is the vice president of the LGBT Programs.

"The glamorous life that is portrayed in the TV series and the people of upper social areas is not what we have," Molano said. "Here, you walk in Jamaica and you see the reality on the streets. They are subject to domestic violence, abuse by every single area in society."

Transgender women are often homeless and unemployed, and the needs of transgender men are often overlooked, so the network offers services that caters to the entire community.

The Jamaica program began in 2012. The program started with just 12 transgender patients. Over the last four years, it has grown to more than 200.

"They see people who are in the same business, who look like them, who act like them, in a place where they are not being subject to judgement. And they'll be welcome," Molano said.

Tia says the constant judging from the public is tough, but she wouldn't change a thing.

"I refuse to be beaten down. I'm going to walk with my head high. Even if it's just me alone," she said.