Transgender History

Overview

• Accounts of transgender people (including non-binary and third-gender individuals) have been documented from ancient times across various cultures.
• Modern terms like "transgender," "gender identity," and "gender role" emerged in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Scholars debate how to categorize gender-variant historical figures using contemporary terms.

Historical Examples

• Classical Antiquity: Galli eunuch priests interpreted as transgender or third-gender.
• South Asia: Kathoey in Thailand and Hijra in India have long-standing histories.
• Arabia: Khanith and Mukhannathun played third-gender roles.
• Indigenous North America: Navajo ndleehi and Zuni lhamana represented third-gender roles.
• Medieval Europe: Speculation on transgender individuals, e.g., Kalonymus ben Kalonymus, Eleanor Rykener, and potentially gender dysphoric poets.
• Japan: Historical records of transgender individuals during the Edo period.
• Indonesia: Bugis society recognizes five genders.

Modern Developments

• United States:
  • 1895: Cercle Hermaphroditos, an early transgender advocacy group.
  • Christine Jorgensen's transition in the 1950s was widely publicized.
  • Notable riots like Stonewall (1969) contributed to LGBTQ rights activism.
• Europe:
  • Lili Elbe and Dora Richter among the first to undergo sex reassignment surgeries.
  • The Chevalier d'Éon and Coccinelle as prominent transgender figures.

Legislative and Rights Movements

• 20th Century:
  • Early advocacy for gender and sexual minorities.
  • Legal and medical challenges for transgender individuals.
• 21st Century:
  • Progressive laws in countries like Canada, Argentina, and Uruguay recognizing transgender rights and identities.
  • Notable transgender politicians like Danica Roem in the USA and Petra De Sutter in Belgium.

Challenges in Historiography

• Difficulty in writing comprehensive transgender history due to modern conceptual frameworks.
• Historians often interpret historical figures through contemporary lenses, sometimes inaccurately.
• Debate on inclusion of non-binary and cross-dressing figures in transgender history.

Global Perspectives

• Africa: Traditional third-gender roles in many societies.
• Asia: Rich histories of gender diversity, such as Hijra in South Asia and Kathoey in Thailand.
• Americas: Indigenous cultures with historical third-gender roles.
• Europe: Early references to transgender individuals, but much progress in legal rights occurred in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Key Concepts

• Transgender: A modern term relating to individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.
• Third-gender: A category that exists outside the traditional male/female gender binary.
• Gender Dysphoria: Psychological distress related to a mismatch between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth.

Important Figures

• Christine Jorgensen: One of the first widely known individuals to undergo sex reassignment surgery.
• Eleanor Rykener: A medieval figure who lived and worked as a woman, possibly transgender.
• Billy Tipton: A jazz musician often discussed in transgender history.

Conclusion

• Transgender history is complex and interwoven with broader LGBTQ histories.
• While modern terms are relatively new, gender diversity has existed worldwide for centuries.