The History of Trans History Month
California recognized August as Transgender History Month in 2023. In challenging times, reclaiming our history is more urgent than ever.
Panel of trans and queer storytellers at the Transgender District office: Ms. Billie Cooper, Jackie Jackson, Larry Byes, Megan Rohrer, and Miss December. (More photos here.) Photos by Pax Ahimsa Gethen, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
by Pax Ahimsa Gethen
The history of trans and non-binary people stretches back as far as human civilization, despite false claims to the contrary. In recognition of the contributions and resilience of our trancestors, as well as the ongoing work of today’s community leaders, trans Californians successfully campaigned to dedicate the entire month of August to celebrating trans history. First declared by mayoral proclamation in San Francisco in 2021, official recognition of Transgender History Month was then adopted by the cities of Santa Clara and San Diego, followed by the state of California in 2023.
Trans Latina activist Jupiter Peraza led The Transgender District’s advocacy for the recognition of Trans History Month. Peraza told Assigned Media that the importance of this month to the community is “honor, recognition of our humanity and our existence, and hope that we can survive even under the iron fist of violence and policing.”
“Transgender history is a history of resistance and defiance - but also one of transformation, rebirth, and ingenuity,” Peraza continued. “The recognition of Transgender History Month in San Francisco and statewide signals to transgender residents that they are seen and that they are part of the fabric of this city and state, and their respective beauty.”
Asked about obstacles faced in advocating for this month of recognition, Peraza responded, “There was some pushback from community members about the need to recognize it at the state level. We found that history was repeating itself in which other members of the LGBTQ+ community found that it was not necessary to recognize trangender history when LGBTQ+ history already had its own commemorative month.”
Peraza continued, “However, trans people have always been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ activism and movement-making, yet we have not reaped the same benefits of our cis gay white counterparts. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were pushed to the sidelines by gay rights groups after the watershed moment that was Stonewall, with their contributions diminished and invisibilized for decades, by members of their own community who deemed them and other transgender and gender-expansive people as being too complicated to support, too controversial, and not having enough potential to assimilate into society for acceptance.”
This year’s celebrations kicked off on the first of the month with the display of a massive trans banner in the plaza across from San Francisco City Hall. CBS News covered the occasion, and interviewed Peraza about her advocacy.
At an event at the Transgender District’s office that evening, a group of Black trans and queer elders told engaging and often hilarious stories about their lives. The panel of speakers was moderated by trans historian Megan Rohrer, a white ally and advocate for LGBTQ communities and people experiencing homelessness. Rohrer brought along advance copies of his new book, San Francisco’s Transgender District, with photos of trans elders including panelist Billie Cooper.
Ms. Billie Cooper shows off her photo in Megan Rohrer’s new book.
Ms. Billie Cooper is a delightfully raunchy storyteller, and tales of her escapades often had the audience in stitches. Born in Philadelphia in 1958, that sense of humor has carried her through 67 years as an “unapologetically Black and transgender woman”. A disabled Navy veteran who overcame addiction and lost an eye to cancer, Cooper has lived with HIV for over 40 years.
“People say I'm loud and obnoxious,” Cooper acknowledged. “That's part of my DNA, who I am. It has gotten me to this point, and I hope I live another 30 years so I can piss more people off.”
Following Cooper, Jackie Jackson, age 77 and a Vietnam veteran, recalled being in San Francisco for one of the first gay pride parades. Larry Byes talked of joining the “exodus” to San Francisco from Cincinnati and other less welcoming places, living through the AIDS pandemic, and celebrating 48 years with his partner. Multiple panelists spoke about dealing with police profiling and harassment, but also of the good times they had at bars and clubs in that earlier era.
After the panel discussion, I spoke with Rohrer about my own role in documenting trans history, as a photographer of trans and queer events and a contributor to Wikipedia. In 2016, one of the milestone events I documented was the 50th anniversary celebration of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, an uprising against police that preceded the Stonewall Riots by three years. The occasion was organized by trans Latina activist Felicia “Flames” Elizondo, who had been a regular at Compton’s. (Elizondo has since passed; Billie Cooper, Mayor London Breed, and other community members spoke at a celebration of her life in 2021.)
As Jupiter Peraza explains in this short video, commemorating the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of August 1966 was the impetus for advocating August as Trans History Month. The site of the cafeteria is now part of The Transgender District, which was originally named Compton’s Transgender Cultural District. Trans District co-executive directors Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga also speak about trans history in the video, along with Trans District co-founder and current Office of Transgender Initiatives director Honey Mahogany.
While working at the Office of Transgender Initiatives myself, I interviewed another trans activist who is documenting our history, Andrea Horne. She was writing a book on Black trans history, and found material about Black trans women dating back to 1836. Named Lifetime Grand Marshal of the 2022 San Francisco Pride Parade, Horne is now making Black trans history herself.
Transgender History Month events are continuing throughout August, with a trans flag raising at City Hall on August 5, a showcase of trans and nonbinary classical artists, a performance of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot play, and more.
Pax Ahimsa Gethen (they/them) is a queer agender writer, editor, and curator.