Happy LGBTQ History Month! Celebrated every October, this month is a time to recognize the victories, lived experiences, and everyday lives that make up queer and trans history. It’s a time to celebrate the contributions of LGBTQ people while also reflecting on how our past shapes the present. Trans history in particular often goes untold, but it’s always been there. Trans history has always been woven into movements for freedom, equality, and community. In honor of LGBTQ History Month, let’s revisit some of the stories we’ve shared about trans history, from early organizing to medical breakthroughs to impactful moments of resistance.
Table of Contents
The Cercle Hermaphroditos (Early 1900s)
What would it have meant to find community in a time when your very existence was illegal? What did trans people do before we had language like “transgender,” before there were support groups, clinics, or gender-affirming care? To answer these questions, we have to dig deep into the forgotten corners of history—and when we do, we sometimes find something extraordinary.
One of the earliest known examples of an organized trans community in the United States was the Cercle Hermaphroditos, a secretive but deeply significant group that existed in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Though only fragments of their story remain, those fragments reveal a story of resistance, solidarity, and defiance of gender norms that continues to resonate with trans people today. Click to read more about The Cercle Hermaphroditos.
First Documented Bottom Surgery (1922)
Dora Rudolfine Richter was a trailblazer in transgender history. Born in Germany, Dora’s story is one of incredible bravery and resilience, supported by pioneering doctors who helped her through her transition. Dora underwent the first documented gender-affirming surgery under the care of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a major advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and the founder of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute for Sexual Research) in Berlin. First, Richter underwent an orchiectomy in 1922. An orchiectomy is a procedure where the testicles are surgically removed. She then continued to have additional gender-affirming surgeries. Click to learn more about Dora Rudolfine Richter.
Discovery of Estrogen (1920s-Mid 20th Century)
If you’re a trans-femme person navigating the world of gender-affirming care, chances are you’ve heard about estrogen. For many of us, it’s more than a hormone—it’s a lifeline, a key to unlocking our most authentic selves. But have you ever wondered about its origins? Who discovered it? When and where did it first emerge in the realm of science? And what did that mean for trans people—especially those living before its discovery? Let’s dive into the fascinating history of estrogen, explore its medical and cultural implications, and critique how its discovery shaped (and complicated) the lives of trans people. Click to learn more about the discovery of estrogen.
Nazis Destroy the World’s First Trans Health Clinic (1933)
Nearly a century ago, on May 6, 1933, Nazi stormtroopers ransacked one of the most groundbreaking institutions in the world, dragging books, research, and medical records into the streets and setting them ablaze: the Institute for Sexual Science (Institut für Sexualwissenschaft) in Berlin, Germany. It was an attack on knowledge, on history, and on the very existence of trans and queer people.
The story of the Institute and its burning is more than just a historical event—it is a warning from the past. Today, as gender-affirming care faces relentless attacks, as books about trans lives are banned, and as misinformation is spread to justify discrimination, the echoes of the past are impossible to ignore. Understanding what happened to the Institute for Sexual Science, why it was targeted, and what was lost in the flames is crucial in resisting today’s efforts to erase transgender people from public life. Click to learn more about the destruction of the first transgender health clinic.
When Being Trans Was Illegal in the U.S. (20th Century)
For much of the 20th century, being transgender in the United States wasn’t just socially unacceptable—it was treated as a crime. Not necessarily by name, not always with laws that explicitly said “trans people are illegal,” but in practice, that’s exactly how it worked. If you dared to live as your true self, you could be arrested, institutionalized, surveilled, denied work, or kicked out of public spaces.
This wasn’t a side effect of the system. It was the system. It was the law. And the criminalization of trans lives was woven into daily life in countless ways—some blunt and brutal, others more bureaucratic and insidious.
So, how exactly was being transgender made illegal? Let’s look at some of the tools used to enforce a strict, binary view of gender and punish anyone who stepped outside its rigid lines. Click to learn more about the anti-trans laws.
The Rise of Anti-Trans Movements (Late 20th Century–Today)
For many in the trans community, the current wave of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric feels like an overwhelming storm—and this isn’t by accident. This cultural and political backlash is deeply rooted, stretching across decades of ideological battles about gender, identity, and power. What’s fueling this anti-trans sentiment? Why is it gaining so much traction? And what does this tell us about the larger cultural moment? To understand how we got here—especially under the shadow of a second Trump presidency—it’s crucial to trace the evolution of these forces and why they’ve become so prominent today. Click to learn more about how anti-trans movements were created.
LGBTQ History Month reminds us that our history is more than a list of dates. LGBTQ History is made up of real people who created change, built community, and fought to exist. The stories of transgender people are an essential part of that history. These trans stories are a part of that legacy, and remembering them helps us see just how much courage, creativity, and brilliance have always been part of our community.
