The United States is tearing itself apart, and the occupying forces have made it clear that queer folk and minorities have no stake in this new world. Nearly a century and a half ago, a trans man for the Union sent his own response to that sentiment in lead.

For all of the nonsense about tradition, religion, and you-don’t-belong we all hear from our conservative relatives this time of year, historical Christmas traditions sure have a lot of genderqueer entities ready to feast on the bastards of this world. Here's some of them.

In November 1990, LIFE Magazine ran a now-legendary photograph of AIDS activist David Kirby’s last moments. Just out of frame was another eventual victim of AIDS, and the reason Therese was in the room at all; Peta, a two-spirit caretaker with their own story to tell. 

Synth pioneer Wendy Carlos has given us eighteen albums, a massive website of personal writings and archival recordings, and a generation of trans synthesizer enthusiasts in her wake. For Halloween, we’re taking a look at her writings, her work, and the queer musicians she’s influenced.