We’ve always been here

As someone who identifies as non-binary, it’s hard for me not to roll my eyes everytime someone claims that gender non-conforming folks are something “new”. There are people who genuinely think some liberal woke up one day and invented a whole wide range of gender identities. That millennials just decided one day to be different. The truth is that these gender complex identities have existed for centuries. We are nothing new, and have existed alongside cisgender folks from the very beginnings of man.

In ancient Mesopotamia, there were worshippers and members of the cult of Inanna, who often dressed very androgynous, but their gender non-conformity goes deeper than dress. Inanna had the ability to change one’s gender (woman to man or vice versa) and it has been documented many times throughout poetry in Sumerian. There was even a group known as the pilipili, who were raised as women and then handed a spear “like men” in blessing from Inanna, and became men themselves. Inanna would later be known as Ishtar to the east Semitic people.

The Hijra of the Indian subcontinent are another ancient example of gender non-conformity. Even mentioned in the Kama Sutra, the Hijra have been documented throughout history in Hindu. They are mentioned throughout the Puranas, which could basically be described as a vast encyclopedia Hindu literature. Even now in modern times, Hijra is recognized as an official third gender throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Pakistan they are known as khawaja sira which can be translated to transgender in English.

Even in Ancient Greece, Aristophanes wrote of the creation of three genders, not just two. Men were from the sun, women the earth, and the third gender, Androgynos, belonged to the moon. There was a group of Aphrodite worshippers who saw her as a moon god but also god, showing the masculine & feminine of the moon combined in third gender again. These worshippers also would cross-dress in order to showcase this. They also had a statue of her that pictured her as effeminate yet with a beard and phallus, which is appropriate because Aphrodite is said to have been born by a cut off penis being thrown to sea, according to Hesiod at least.

There is also the two-spirits, indigiqueer & others of the indigenous Americans. Over 100 tribes recognized third genders before colonization. Early colonizers noticed that there were male/male relationships, where one of the men was assigned female at birth but took on male roles and assumed a male identity. They were known by the European colonizers as the berdache or “passing women.” In the 1700s when Spain began exploring what is now California, Don Pedro Fages wrote several diaries documenting gender non conformity and queer relationships. He documented masculine figures who acted and dressed like women and were held in high regard.

In Oaxaca Mexico, there are the muxes, recognized by the Zapotec peoples as a third gender. They wear traditional dress and speak the Zapotec language, they are imporant keepers of their people’s culture and history. In Juchitán de Zaragoza in the southeast of Oaxaca, muxes have been celebrated since pre-colonial times and there is a large Muxe population. Nice Estrella Vazqueza even appeared on cover of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, wearing the traditional huipil grande of their area.

As you can see, transgender, non-binary and other gender nonconforming folks have existed throughout time and culture. We are embedded into the history and roots of many nations. Many histories have been erased by colonization, ignorance and hatred, but it’s ridiculous to deny they ever existed based on their erasure. Queer folks have existed just as long as heterosexual, cisgender folks and despite those who insist on silencing us all, we will continue to find our voices, across many languages.