When Did Transgender Start? A Historical Overview of Trans Identity

Gender identity, transgender people, sexual reassignment surgery, transgender equality, and tsdating have all been hot topics across all media platforms for a while now. But when exactly did the transgender community start to emerge in mainstream society, and what happened to trans people before cultures acknowledged transgender people?

Let’s explore the legal recognition of transgender people and how the openly first transgender people have fought for the treatment of transgender people in this modern era.

Transgender People Have Always Been In Society

It’s really important to understand that despite the current political position of many close-minded people, transgender people have been recognized and embraced by many societies throughout human history.

Now it is fairly impossible to say who the first transgender person was for sure but it is wonderful to think about all of the trans lives we have managed to document throughout history. It would be amazing to see so many embrace non binary and transgender people in modern times though.

Historical accounts and even archaeological evidence have suggested that transgender people were equal members of society at least 5000 years ago. Let’s take a look at how transgender people have been embraced by various cultures over the years and a little general trans history too!

Third Gender and Trans Feminine People on the Indian Subcontinent and South Asia

Over 3000 years ago, transgender people sought out sexual reassignment surgery and were known as third gender people or even trans feminine people in society. The idea that non binary people and transgender people are a modern phenomenon is entirely false and in some ways constructed by right wing media and is even ignoring those who lived before us in places like South Asia.

For many cultures, such people have been well loved or even seen as higher up figures within the community giving guidance to those who need it most across all of South Asia.

Across the Indian subcontinent and Thailand, the title of third genders was given to trans people. These third gender people were given certain levels of historical, cultural and spiritual significance within South Asian society.

African Traditional Roles for a Transgender Person

In some African societies third gender roles were even seen as specific duties to be undertaken by transgender people. Even now in modern day times these ideas of a third gender role have still remained with many tribes sticking to the trans history they are used to.

Ancient Greece and Gender Identity

Across Ancient Greece there have been records found of Gala who dressed and performed as women within the temples. These Galli were priests in both Ancient Greece and Rome who would now be considered to be transgender people.

Whether these people would consider themselves to be non binary people or transgender people is impossible to say but these are certainly evidence of some of the earliest attempts to subvert gender roles and live as a person of the opposite sex.

The Roman Emperor Elagabalus

When you think of legally recognized transgender people you might not think of a Roman emperor however, Elagabalus was one of the first documented cases of somebody experiencing clear dysphoria surrounding their gender.

They preferred to be called a lady and not a lord as well as offering vast sums of money to any doctors who could give them a vagina. They even word female clothes which was a pretty big deal at the time and sadly, still is in some areas today.

However, in 1498 a A Moor was executed for “transvestism” on April 7th despite her likely being a trans woman. Despite some figures existing openly outside of the two gender binary, there are still cases like this one where a trans woman has been wrongfully executed for simply being who she was born to be.

Trans Women in the Civil War

Throughout transgender history there are multiple cases of a trans person posing as the opposite sex for enormous historical events. One example of this is during the American Civil War where around one in 250 people who fought were actually people who were assigned female sex at birth yet fought in the war as men a gender role attested traditionally to only those who were assigned male at birth.

Sadly we cannot tell if there were any cases of a transgender woman remaining at home to take on roles within the community or not. However this is not a case exclusively for a transgender woman since all women were poorly recorded if they remained unmarried at this time regardless of their gender identity or transgender identities.

Two Spirit and Indigenous Communities Outside of South Asia

Indigenous peoples have been referring to transgender individuals as two spirit and Indigenous people even had their own words for transgender people in their native languages outside of simply two spirit. Sadly, in the mid-18th century, Indigenous communities were faced by a systematic restructuring to align them with heteronormative European family structures which unfortunately destroyed a lot of their beautiful traditions.

The traditional roles pushed into Indigenous communities by Europeans not only endangered transgender people but it also destroyed the lives of many other people too. Their beliefs outside of the traditional gender system was a huge blow for the transgender individuals amongst them which was difficult to recover from.

Compton’s Cafeteria Riots

The Compton’s cafeteria riots are almost as infamous as the Stonewall riots where we sadly saw many individuals having to fight back against police brutality towards any transgender man or woman they met.

The Compton riots took place in Tenderloin, San Francisco and played a pivotal role in a much larger human rights campaign to help trans men and women or even the trans youth of today gain more rights and freedom.

Stonewall Riots in New York

Of course, we could never forget the Stonewall riots that took place in New York which saw a huge spike in people joining the human rights campaign to aid the entire LGBTQ+ community in living a safer life.

Trans lives were at a stage where they needed to be protected as police forces were targeting anybody from drag queens, gay men, lesbian women and trans people across America simply for being who they always were.

Gender Identity is Established

In 1990, the term gender identity is established as a collection term for a historical gender identity for people who identified as neither men nor women at the time of living.

Gender identity has since become an important piece of terminology to help young transgender people understand the feelings they are experiencing as a transgender child. Trans people finally had a term to help describe the people who lived before them.

This also gave more respect to those who were possibly transgender people when they were alive instead of simply saying they were assigned male at birth or assigned female at birth.

The Queer Liberation Front

The Queer Liberation Front or QLF was created to focus on the visibility of drag queens and trans people at all gay events.

For many trans people going to events like pride or even gay nightclubs still did not give them the full chance to be themselves. Being a gay man or a lesbian woman was starting to be more accepted by mainstream society however trans people were still considered to be mentally ill or somehow confused about their gender identity.

Dana International Wins Eurovision

Dana International became the first trans person to enter and win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998. Representing Israel, Dana paved the way for future performers living outside of the traditional gender binary identities.

Since Dana, we have seen many trans women, men and people all across the LGBTQ+ spectrum compete or even win the Eurovision song contest!

1999 The First Transgender Pride Flag

With its famous blue and pink stripes representing male and female sex to the white stripe representing trans people who identify as non binary or without a gender, the trans pride flag was a wonderful addition to the collection of LGBTQ+ flags already present giving trans people visibility at many pride events.

The Renaming of Gender Identity Disorder

In 2013 an update to the DSM (DSM-V) saw the term gender identity disorder be changed to gender dysphoria. Many professionals and trans people felt that the term gender identity disorder suggested that there was something wrong with them causing others to even question their transgender identity.

While renaming gender identity disorder may seem like a very small victory for those with a transgender identity, it was definitely a step in the right direction. It also opened up the floor for a much larger conversation about things like gender confirmation surgery, transgender history and even people’s sexual orientation.

Gender Affirming Medical Care

One of the largest hurdles for trans women and men has been getting their gender identity recognized by medical professionals. Whenever you go for any kind of medical treatment you are faced with things like forms stating your gender identity and even segregated bathrooms that can just feel like small aggressions to people with a transgender identity.

However, within the USA the first sex reassignment surgery actually took place in 1950. Many people today believe sex reassignment surgery is something entirely new yet doctors have been performing small aspects of gender confirmation surgery since 1917.

The oldest Western institute studying LGBTQ+ identities and sex research was even started in Germany in 1919. The Insitute for Sex Research were pioneers in things like sex change operations and health care for those who identify as non binary or transgender. This gender reaffirming care is a brilliant safe space for non binary and transgender individuals to receive the care they need with zero shame or negativity.

In fact for some people it feels like those who exist outside of the gender binary were actually treated more fairly in some cultures than they are today. Some medical practices still force trans people to simply put terms like assigned male at birth instead of transgender or however else they choose to define themselves.

For some places however the term non binary and sometimes transgender is now an option on paperwork which is definitely a step in the right direction for transgender and non gender conforming individuals.

Alongside these types of care things like hormone therapy are becoming more accessible to those transgender and non binary individuals who need it. Hormone therapy is even covered by government healthcare in some countries for those who need gender specific care.

It’s Time to Be an Ally

In today’s world, accepting transgender individuals is more important than ever as society strives to embrace diversity and promote equality for transgender groups. Transgender individuals continue to face discrimination, marginalisation, and misunderstanding despite their vital contributions to every aspect of life simply for being transgender.

Recognising the complexity of gender allows us to challenge outdated norms and create spaces where all people, including transgender individuals, feel valued and respected. Supporting transgender individuals not only validates their identities but also enriches our understanding of how gender operates across a spectrum, rather than as a rigid binary.

Now more than ever transgender members of our society needs allies. By being an ally to the transgender folks around you you’re offering them safety in a time of globel uncertainty. Together we can help the transgender members of our local communities safe and happy.

By advocating for the rights and inclusion of transgender individuals and those who identify beyond gender, we pave the way for a future where everyone’s gender identity is celebrated, and no one is excluded based on who they are including transgender individuals.

Final Thoughts

The history of transgender people reflects a resilient journey through time, showcasing their fight for recognition, dignity, and equality regardless of gender. Transgender individuals have always existed, shaping cultures and communities while navigating societal challenges rooted in misunderstanding and prejudice. The broader history of transgender advocacy highlights how non binary identities, often overlooked, have played a pivotal role in redefining our understanding of gender.

Transgender voices have demanded visibility and respect, emphasising that gender is not confined to binaries but is a spectrum that includes everyone. Non binary and transgender individuals have continually contributed to the evolving discourse on gender identity, demonstrating the strength of diverse gender expressions. The rich spectrum of transgender history reveals stories of struggle and triumph, proving that gender diversity is an enduring and vital part of human existence. Transgender rights movements have fought to dismantle misconceptions about gender and elevate non binary experiences within the broader conversation on gender equality.

Acknowledging transgender history is a step toward fostering a more inclusive understanding of gender, one that embraces both transgender and non binary individuals as integral to humanity’s collective narrative and the larger human rights campaign.