10 Trans And Gender Non-Conforming People You Need To Know

Kira Brekke and Brooke Sopelsa
Updated

As HuffPost Live wraps up its coverage of October's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) history month, we'd be remiss if we didn't highlight some of the bravest pioneers within the queer community.

From all-star tennis players to young adults just trying to live as their preferred gender, feast your eyes on some (but certainly not all!) of the most notable trans people in history.

1. Lili Elbe

Artist Lili Elbe first started living as a women in Copenhagen in the early 20th century and began undergoing gender confirmation surgery in the 1930s. Her fascinating story as one of the first people to reportedly undergo the surgery is now the subject of the upcoming film "The Danish Girl," in which she'll be played by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne.

(Photo: ullstein bild via Getty Images)
(Photo: ullstein bild via Getty Images)

2. Christine Jorgensen

After a short stint in the U.S. military, Jorgensen made headlines -- i.e. "Ex-GI becomes blonde beauty!" -- in 1952 when she returned to America from Denmark after transitioning under the care of a Danish doctor who had been experimenting with hormones. Jorgensen proceeded to have a long career in the spotlight as one of the first publicly out trans women in the country.

(Photo: AP)
(Photo: AP)

3. Billy Tipton

Born in 1914, American jazz musician Billy Tipton led popular dance bands in the 1940s and 1950s. Yet those who were closest to the talented pianist and saxophone player -- even several women who considered themselves to have been married to him -- were not aware he was transgender until his death in 1989.

4. Reed Erickson

Born in El Paso, Texas in 1917, Erickson was an engineer, businessman, philanthropist and trans man. He began to transition in 1963 and underwent gender confirmation surgery in 1965. He used his large personal fortune from his successful business ventures to establish the Erickson Education Foundation.

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(Photo: The Transgender Archives, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
(Photo: The Transgender Archives, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)

5. Sylvia Rivera

Transgender activist Sylvia Rivera was said to be on the front lines during the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The native New Yorker was a tireless advocate for the rights of trans people of color and co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries in 1970 with her friend Marsha P. Johnson, another pioneer in the transgender community.

(Photo: Justin Sutcliffe/AP)
(Photo: Justin Sutcliffe/AP)

6. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

This transgender activist started fighting for the rights of trans women of color in the 1960s. Her advocacy work has focused on prison rights and police brutality against trans women of color, and she currently serves as the executive director of the Transgender GenderVariant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP).

(Photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/53326337@N00/14560270363" target="_blank">quinn.anya/Flickr</a>)
(Photo: quinn.anya/Flickr)

7. Renee Richards

Richards' private transition in 1975 threatened her prolific tennis career when she was told she couldn't compete in the 1977 U.S. Open. She successfully sued the United States Tennis Association for gender discrimination with help from Billie Jean King. While Richards didn't win the tournament, she was able to continue her tennis career until her retirement in 1981.

(Photo: DAVE PICKOFF/AP)
(Photo: DAVE PICKOFF/AP)

8. Brandon Teena

In 1993, 21-year-old Teena was brutally raped and murdered in Nebraska because of his gender identity. Some have called his tragic death a seminal moment for pushing advocacy for the trans community forward. Teena's story later became the critically-acclaimed 1999 movie, "Boys Don't Cry," starring Hilary Swank as Teena.

9. Leslie Feinberg

In 1992, Feinberg's first novel Stone Butch Blues broke ground for its sensitive exploration of the complexities of gender. Feinberg continued to push the discourse about transgender liberation forward with numerous publications including Trans Liberation and Transgender Warriors.

(Photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94954047@N00/204102584" target="_blank">沐小川/Flickr</a>)
(Photo: 沐小川/Flickr)

10. Justin Vivian Bond

Transgender performance artist and activist Justin Vivian Bond, who famously uses the title "Mx." and pronoun "v," was dubbed the "best cabaret artist" of v's generation by The New Yorker in 2011. The Tony-nominated performer still regularly entertains audiences at New York City's Joe's Pub.

(Photo: Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)
(Photo: Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)

Join the conversation! What transgender pioneers come to mind for you? And click here for our lists on the gay, lesbian and bisexual leaders of their respective communities.

Also on HuffPost:

Caitlyn Jenner Makes Her Debut On Vanity Fair

On June 1, 2015, Caitlyn Jenner (formerly known as Bruce Jenner) <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/06/01/caitlyn-jenner-vanity-fair_n_7485786.html" target="_blank">made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine</a>. The issue followed her public interview with Diane Sawyer, in which she spoke openly about her transition and journey.

Chelsea Manning Comes Out

Following <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/bradley-manning-guilty_n_3677096.html" target="_blank">her trial for leaking classified government documents</a>, Chelsea Manning sent shockwaves through the nation when she announced her transgender identity and asked for the public's support. "As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/bradley-manning-chelsea-manning_n_3794629.html" target="_blank">Manning said in a statement</a>. "I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible."

McDonald's Supports Transgender Rights With Bathroom Message

In light of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/mcdonalds-food-stamps_n_4151647.html" target="_blank">recent controversy</a> surrounding McDonald's treatment of the company's employees, one Washington franchise of the fast food chain impressively allowed transgender individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The letter read, <blockquote>We respect the rights of all customers and employees. We believe all people must have access to safe and dignified bathroom facilities regardless of their gender identity or expression. Therefore, the following policy has been adopted for this restaurant at 1530 3rd Avenue ... Employees and customers may use any restroom that corresponds with and is based upon the gender identity they publicly and exclusively assert or express.</blockquote>

First Openly Transgender Character In Mainstream Comics

DC Comic fans were introduced to Alysia in "Batgirl" #19 in early April, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/dc-comics-transgender-batgirl_n_3061268.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender" target="_blank">who went on to reveal</a> that she is transgender during a conversation with Barbara Gordon (Batgirl). The move made Alysia not only the first DC Comics transgender character but the first transgender character in mainstream comics.

Transgender Teenage Couple Transitions Together

Arin Andrews and Katie Hill <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/23/transgender-teenage-couple-arin-andrews-katie-hill_n_3639220.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender" target="_blank">warmed hearts around the world last summer with their unique and touching love story</a>. The pair met at a trans support group, after each had begun the transitioning process, and fell in love.

Ari South Becomes First Openly Transgender Project Runway Contestant

When Ari South first appeared on "Project Runway" season eight, the designer embodied a different name and different identity. When she <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/ari-south-transgender_n_4151196.html" target="_blank">returned to "Project Runway All Stars" in October</a>, she was living as her authentic self and blazing through uncharted territory for transgender people both within -- and outside -- the fashion world.

Top Russian Lawyer Comes Out As Trans, Announces Presidential Campaign

In wake of the pervasive climate of fear and violence <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/occupy-paedophilia-hunting-gays-russia_n_3875223.html" target="_blank">plaguing LGBT Russians</a>, top Russian lawyer Masha Best <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/13/masha-bast-transgender-russia-lawyer_n_3920998.html" target="_blank">came out as both transgender and bisexual</a> in protest of the country's institutionalized homophobia. Best later went on to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/masha-best-presidential-campaign_n_3979339.html" target="_blank">announce her campaign for the Russian presidency</a> in 2018. Here, Best <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/masha-best-transgender-remembrace-_n_4324387.html" target="_blank">poses nude in honor of the 2013 Transgender Day of Remembrance</a>.

Arizona's Rights For Transgender Minors

Other states also met these bills with resistance, with one Arizona lawmaker, John Kavanagh, attempting to push through legislation that would prosecute transgender people for using a public restroom if their appearance didn't match the listed gender on their identification. One local new station dubbed this the "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/john-kavanagh-arizona-transgender-bathroom-bill_n_3006516.html" target="_blank">Show Me Your Papers Before You Go Potty</a>" bill. The backlash <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/arizona-transgender-bathroom-bill_n_2967997.html" target="_blank">convinced the lawmaker</a> to tone down the language of his bill, and <a href="http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2013/06/az-rep-john-kavanaghs-bathroom-bill.html" target="_blank">put it on hold</a> until next year.

University Expels Transgender Student For 'Fraud'

Domaine Javier, a nursing student at California Baptist University, revealed to the world that she was transgender in an MTV episode of "True Life." The university's response? <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/domaine-javier-lawsuit_n_2775756.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender" target="_blank">Accusations of fraud followed by expulsion</a> because Javier had given her gender as female on her admissions application. She went on to sue the institution.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.