Eli Erlick's 'Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History' aims to illuminate the overlooked lives of trans individuals from 1850 to 1950. In an effort to move past the prevalent focus on white, Western trans narratives, the book features 30 untold stories spanning various experiences, including early access to gender-affirming care and pivotal events in LGBTQ+ history. By addressing misconceptions and the political implications of gender identity in history, Erlick seeks to provide an authentic representation of trans lives, emphasizing their existence and diversity during this period.
In the past decade, there have been at least half-a dozen books on white trans people in Western countries specifically; I wanted this book to focus on everyone else.
Each story holds a message that speaks to something about transgender life, showcasing the diversity and prevalence of trans people throughout the period.
I'm treating this category very differently, and there's a political reason behind that as we link history to modern-day politics.
The Cleopatra problem highlights how discussions around trans identities are often more contentious than those about historical figures whose gender is widely accepted.
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