Pride month: Why Trans history is my own history too.
Pride month: Why Trans history is my own history too.
Human history is LGBTQ+ history. As it turns out, lesbians, gay, bisexuals, and trans folks are littered over human history. Yes, that does include non binary and queer folks too. Hidden from view by the barrier of language. There are plenty of unrecorded things because they don’t fit the norms. Pride happens every year since the Stonewall riots in 1969. That was a New York nightclub that was raided by the police. I normally don’t upload images here, but the image is from that event. Pride happened due to the Stonewall riots, which were part of a long push for gay rights. Things happen gradually before they happen suddenly. Trans activists, not just gay men and lesbians, helped fight for our rights. Not just male or female, but non binary along with trans. It is why the fight has gone from gay rights to trans rights. The reason why this matters is the importance of learning about Queer and LGBTQ+ history. It is easy to forget this key part of human history.
Records of different gender identities, as we understand them now, date back to Egypt in 1200 BC. Ancient civilizations from 4,000 years ago documented them, too. What I’m saying is that this is as old as human history itself, and perhaps even older. Hidden in plain sight has always been multiple genders and non binary folks. Current discourse about there only being two genders ignores a big chunk of human history. It seeks to flatten identities like it did with queer and LGBTQ+ folks for generations. It is worth pointing out that minorities face similar problems. That is a reason why crossover exists and vulnerable groups or repressed groups come together to fight for change.
Modern terms like “transgender” only date back to 1965. Because the modern concept of gender identity didn’t fully develop until the 20th century, dating these historical instances is difficult. We are often filtering the past through modern viewpoints. Historically, these lives were viewed through different lenses. Lesbian or gay relationships were often dismissed as “they were just good friends.” Sometimes things were viewed through a purely medical lens over the social one we have now. This means a huge amount of LGBTQ+ history is hidden in plain sight and open to interpretation. The current debate on gender expression is wildly out of whack with that historical reality. It is the result of masculinity trying to contain femininity. You could say it is the last throw of the dice to keep the world as it is.
If you’re curious about biology and nature, things get even more interesting. The argument that there are “just two genders” doesn’t hold up. Take chromosomes: everyone knows XY and XX, but most of us never actually test to see what we have. People can have three chromosomes (XXY) or even just one (XO). That’s even before you get into intersex traits. The spectrum is real, and hormones follow that same spectrum.
Nature is not neat. It does not like to put things into little boxes the way humans do. Clownfish change sex; same-sex penguin couples raise chicks together. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness. For whatever reason, nature seems to want LGBTQ+ identities to exist in significant numbers.
It wasn’t long ago that gay people faced the same problems that trans and non binary folks face today. While the “LGB” part of the rainbow is numerically larger than the trans community, trans activists were the ones who helped us gain our rights. If it weren’t for the drag queens and trans folks at the Stonewall riots, we would have a much less inclusive future. We also would not have Pride month and the marches we know today. Without those activists, we would have fewer allies and fewer rights after decades of fighting. The point of this blog post is to remind people of this rich and often forgotten history, along with focusing on the trans element.
Speaking of which, the reason why it is LGBTQ+ and not GLBT is because of solidarity with the lesbian community, along with honoring their massive support for gay men during the AIDS crisis. It recognizes their vital role, care, and advocacy. It was about pushing for more inclusive activism and understanding that women are often overlooked. That crisis pulled us closer together, too. I’ve probably just robbed myself of stuff to talk about in a future history post!
No matter what you think, our rights, not just theirs, are under threat. History shows us that once they go after one vulnerable group, they eventually go after the rest. The fight is not over yet for us. No matter how hard we try, our sexuality is political. Gender is too. Representation matters for those who can’t be out or be themselves. It is up to the rest of us to give you a voice. Hopefully, one day you can join us sitting on this rainbow.
I found a podcast that is now on hiatus called Safe Space that talked about historical queer figures. It was hosted by Emma and Hester. That podcast was a welcome reminder of something hidden in plain sight. The Queer community has always been a crossroads between masculinity and femininity. It is why drag queens and the trans community are connected together. It is why campness exists. It is just a different experience of both. The point I’m making here is that the binary view of things is inaccurate. Perhaps we should listen to our trans brothers and sisters and learn our history this Pride Month. There are plenty of names you don’t know that are super important to the movement. For me, my own sexuality helps me explore and view gender differently. That is not a curse but a gift. This Pride month is the first time in a long time I feel comfortable in my skin. That is thanks to the celebration and protest this month has become.