Timeline of Trans History
Explore the lives and contributions of transgender individuals throughout history, presented in chronological order.
Jemima Wilkinson
they/them
Jemima Wilkinson was an American preacher who, after a near-death experience, took on the name Public Universal Friend and rejected both birth name and gendered pronouns. The Friend is considered by some to be one of the first documented non-binary figures in American history.
Learn moreAlbert D. J. Cashier
he/him
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 assigned sex was only discovered late in his life, leading to a legal battle to retain his veteran's pension.
Learn moreWe'wha
she/her (referred to as a Zuni lhamana, a third gender)
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 respected cultural ambassador and artist.
Learn moreAlan L. Hart
he/him
Alan L. Hart was an American physician, radiologist, tuberculosis researcher, writer, and novelist. He was one of the first transgender men to undergo a hysterectomy in the United States in 1917-1918 and lived the rest of his life as a man.
Learn moreLucy Hicks Anderson
she/her
Lucy Hicks Anderson was an American socialite and chef, and one of the earliest documented African American transgender women. She was prosecuted in 1945 for perjury after authorities discovered she was assigned male at birth, leading to a landmark legal case.
Learn moreChristine Jorgensen
she/her
Christine Jorgensen was an American trans woman who was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery.
Learn moreHarry Benjamin
he/him
Harry Benjamin was a German-American endocrinologist and sexologist, known for his pioneering work with transgender people. His 1966 book, "The Transsexual Phenomenon," was the first major scientific text on the subject and established the first standards of care.
Learn moreMartine Rothblatt
she/her
Martine Rothblatt is an American lawyer, author, entrepreneur, and transgender rights advocate. She is the founder of Sirius XM satellite radio, and later founded United Therapeutics, a biotechnology company. As a queer trans woman, she has been a pioneer in both business and advocacy.
Learn moreBilly Tipton
he/him
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 even his family until after his death, which prompted a national conversation about gender and identity.
Learn moreReed Erickson
he/him
Reed Erickson was an American trans man, philanthropist, and engineer. He was one of the wealthiest transgender people in the world and used his fortune to create the Erickson Educational Foundation (EEF), which funded and supported transgender-related research, advocacy, and social services for decades.
Learn moreMarsha P. Johnson
she/her
Marsha P. Johnson was an American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969.
Learn moreSylvia Rivera
she/her
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 Activists Alliance and, with Marsha P. Johnson, co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR).
Learn moreMiss Major Griffin-Gracy
she/her
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 veteran of the Stonewall Riots and a former sex worker who has been advocating for her community for over 40 years.
Learn moreRenee Richards
she/her
Renee Richards is an American ophthalmologist and former professional tennis player. In 1976, she was denied entry into the US Open by the United States Tennis Association, leading to a landmark New York Supreme Court case that ruled in her favor, establishing a legal precedent for transgender athletes.
Learn moreLou Sullivan
he/him
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 (female-to-male) movement and was instrumental in helping the medical establishment understand that sexual orientation and gender identity are distinct.
Learn moreBrandon Teena
he/him
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 Award-winning film "Boys Don't Cry," which brought widespread attention to transgender issues and hate crimes.
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