In this episode, we speak with Eli Erlick, celebrated author, trans activist, and educator based out of New York City, who recently published the groundbreaking new book Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850-1950.

In a time of moral panic when trans people are being turned into political scapegoats, with hundreds of new bills restricting their rights and visibility, Erlick’s book is a powerful reminder that trans people have always been here. Drawing on court files, newspapers, and other primary sources, Erlick uncovers the lives of trans kids, workers, activists, and athletes who lived long before words like “transgender” existed.

We talk with Eli about why reclaiming erased history matters now; why there is no such thing as the “first” trans person; how language shapes who is allowed to exist; early gender-affirming care and activism; Magnus Hirschfeld’s legacy; and how trans athletes, youth, and public life became today’s battleground in the culture war.

As Erlick writes, “History has always been a malleable tool used for political ends.” This episode is about restoring the past that reactionaries are trying to erase, and using history as a tool for truth, understanding, and future liberation.

You can learn all about Eli, order her book, and check out her tour dates on her website elierlick.com.