Jemima Wilkinson
1752 – 1819
Jemima Wilkinson was an American preacher who, after a near-death experience, took on the name Public Universal Friend and rejected both birth name...
Learn moreWelcome to the Trans History Archive
This archive documents significant events, people, and milestones in the history of trans identities. Our goal is to preserve and share this important history for education and awareness.
Featured Figures
Albert D. J. Cashier
1862 – 1915
Albert Cashier was an Irish-born man who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He lived as a man for most of his life, and his...
Learn moreFrances Thompson
c. 1840 – November 28, 1876
Frances Thompson was a formerly enslaved Black trans woman whose 1871 congressional testimony about the 1866 Memphis Massacre stands as the first...
Learn moreWe'wha
1849 – 1896
We'wha was a Zuni Native American from New Mexico. As a lhamana, a traditional Zuni third gender, We'wha lived as both a man and a woman and was a...
Learn moreAlan L. Hart
1890 – 1962
Alan L. Hart was an American physician, radiologist, tuberculosis researcher, writer, and novelist. He was one of the first transgender men to undergo...
Learn moreLucy Hicks Anderson
1886 – 1954
Lucy Hicks Anderson was an American socialite and chef, and one of the earliest documented African American transgender women. She was prosecuted in...
Learn moreHarry Benjamin
1885 – 1986
Harry Benjamin was a German-American endocrinologist and sexologist, known for his pioneering work with transgender people. His 1966 book, "The...
Learn moreChristine Jorgensen
1926 – 1989
Christine Jorgensen was an American trans woman who was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment...
Learn moreMartine Rothblatt
1954
Martine Rothblatt is an American lawyer, author, entrepreneur, and transgender rights advocate. She is the founder of Sirius XM satellite radio, and...
Learn moreBilly Tipton
1914 – 1989
Billy Tipton was an American jazz musician and bandleader. He lived his adult life as a man, and his assigned sex was not discovered by the public or...
Learn moreReed Erickson
1917 – 1992
Reed Erickson was an American trans man, philanthropist, and engineer. He was one of the wealthiest transgender people in the world and used his...
Learn moreSylvia Rivera
1951 – 2002
Sylvia Rivera was an American gay liberation and transgender rights activist. She was a founding member of both the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay...
Learn moreMarsha P. Johnson
1945 – 1992
Marsha P. Johnson was an American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was...
Learn moreMiss Major Griffin-Gracy
1940
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is a trans woman activist and community leader for transgender rights, with a particular focus on women of color. She is a...
Learn moreRenee Richards
1934
Renee Richards is an American ophthalmologist and former professional tennis player. In 1976, she was denied entry into the US Open by the United...
Learn moreLou Sullivan
1951 – 1991
Lou Sullivan was an American author and activist known for his work on behalf of transgender men. He was a pioneer in the grassroots FTM...
Learn moreBrandon Teena
1972 – 1993
Brandon Teena was an American trans man who was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska. His life and death were the subject of the Academy...
Learn moreKasi Rhea
– August 18, 2025
Kasi Rhea was a 31-year-old Black trans woman and hairstylist who was shot and killed in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was found in the front yard of a...
Learn moreHow to Contribute
- Clone this repository
- Copy the template from
_data/template.md - Fill in the details for your entry
- Save the file with a descriptive name and date (e.g.,
1952-harry-benjamin.md) - Run
npm run buildto generate the site - Create a pull request with your changes