Today is the beginning of trans+ history week. Trans+ History Week is a global week-long observance dedicated to celebrating the history of all gender diverse people – including trans, non-binary and Intersex people. This week began with the work of Marty Davies who discovered the historical raid of transgender clinic by the Nazi’s on May 6, 1933. Davies said, “the week they tried to erase us is the week we will remember.”
As a former historian myself, I want to go way back and highlight one of the earliest transgender people in recorded history,
Elagabulus served as a Roman emperor around 220 AD. Assigned male at birth, Elagabulus used female pronouns, including a quote attributed to her saying "call me not Lord, for I am a Lady". The emperor also preferred women’s clothing and make-up. She offered a large sum of money to anyone who could perform what we would call today gender affirming surgery. Medical practices at that day were not able to offer that operation and in the year 222 she was assassinated.
I find Elagabulus a fascinating person. Her gender expression was criticized as unmanly and unRoman. And yet, she lived her truth to the point of it costing her life.
This week, let us remember the contributions of the trancestors who came before us so that we can live fully.
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