These Transgender Icons Have Shaped History Throughout the Years

The 21st century has done a lot to open up people’s minds on gender identity. In the past, people had to keep quiet about their struggles and avoid changing from one sex to another, but that’s changed now. Prominent voices in the celebrity realm have made it possible for everyone to share and be better.

Many celebrities have paved the way by coming forward and sharing that they identify as transgender. That’s helped everyone who might be feeling dysphoria themselves. Let’s check out some of the most famous transgender celebrities throughout the years and hear their stories.

Candy Darling

Candy Darling was born as James Lawrence Slattery, but she has starred in various films, such as Flesh, Bloody Night, Silent Night, and Women Revolt. In fact, she announced that she was transgender in 1944, when this was unheard of, and passed away at 29.

April Ashley

April Ashley was an actress and model from Britain who put a face on the trans community in the 1960s. She worked hard in acting and modeling to afford gender reassignment surgery. Though her story got published without consent in Sunday People, it helped others become more accepting.

Holly Woodlawn

Holly Woodlawn was born in Puerto Rico as Haraldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez. She chose her female name by combining the character name for Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and one I Love Lucy episode. Eventually, she went to NYC and appeared in several films, founding the Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund.

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha Johnson was a full-blown advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, helping to raise awareness for trans acceptance and HIV. She was a drag performer and performed in Factory from Andy Warhol. Plus, she was part of the Stonewall Uprising, which inspired the Pride Parade.

Octavia Saint Laurent

Also called Queen of the Underground, Octavia was an actress, model, and activist. She’s known primarily for being in Paris Is Burning, which was the story of the NYC underground ball scene. Sadly, she passed away back in 2009.

Sophia Lamar

Sophia Lamar is active on the cinema scene and in the LGBT entertainment scene. Before going to NYC and becoming a Club Kid, she was part of the Cuban underground scene. Plus, she’s been the face for many fashion brands and even represented NYU for AIDS research.

Jackie Curtis

Jackie Curtis also worked with Andy Warhol and was a free spirit who didn’t care about what people thought. She was in various female roles and never gave in to stereotypes. Though she was a poet and writer, she dealt with substance abuse, dying in 1985.

Mimi Marks

Mimi Marks is considered the most beautiful transgender model for the 1980s. She transitioned at 21 years old and won the 1986 Ms. Waterloo pageant. Then, she went on to win the Miss International Queen Contest for the Most Beautiful Transsexual.

Ian Harvie

Ian Harvie has been very helpful to the LGBTQ+ community. The stand-up comedian opened for Margaret Cho in the 2000s. His comedy focuses on identity and gender and is funny and emotional. He transitioned between 19 and 32 years old.

Eva Robin

Eva Robin is a trans activist in Italy who claims to have known her true identity from 13 years old. She’s outspoken and fights for LGBTQ+ rights. Likewise, she acts and models and has even appeared in Tenebrae, a Dario Argentino movie.

Bibiana Fernandez

The Spanish model and actress is often called Bibi Andersen and is known for Law of Desire, Matador, and Rowing with the Wind. She transitioned back in 1991, legally changing her name just three years later. She was also married to Asdrubal Ametller, a Cuban model.

Marie Pierre Pruvot

Marie was born in 1935 in Algeria, and early on, she knew she wanted a career on the stage. She was a showgirl for about 20 years, appearing in documentaries about performance and gender. In fact, she was in Bambi, which was about her life.

Lauren Harries

Lauren Harries began at 13 years old and was on television with bow ties and talking about antique furniture. However, she transitioned after she became famous, making life hard. That meant a lot of bullying, but she went on to be in This Morning, Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, and more.

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox became famous when she was on Orange is the New Black as Sophia Burset. This role earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. Plus, she was the first transgender person in a trans role on Doubt.

Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner is probably the most well-known transgender person in the world. Born as Bruce Jenner, she became an Olympic gold medalist and was part of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Finally, she came out in 2014 as trans and got her own show after transitioning, called I Am Cait.

Wachowski Sisters

The Wachowski sisters are known for creating the Matrix film franchise and the television show Sense8. They won Saturn Awards for the Best Director. They are vocal advocates for transgender rights.

Fallon Fox

Fallon Fox was an MMA fighter and is also the first openly transgender person in the MMA’s history. She struggled with her identity for years and transitioned at 19 years old, finally marrying her girlfriend. They now have a daughter together.

Chaz Bono

Chaz Bono is the child of Sonny Bono and Cher. His pre-transition days and transition story are actually part of a documentary named Becoming Chaz. He’s a musician, author, and activist for trans rights.

Janet Mock

Janet Mock is a director, TV host, writer, activist, and producer who has done it all. In fact, Redefining Realness was her memoir, and it was a New York Times bestseller. She also worked for various magazines and became the first transgender person of color to become a writer for a television show.

Erika Ervin

Erika Ervin is also called Amazon Eve. She’s a fitness trainer, model, and actress. In fact, she’s been on American Horror Story: Freak Show and American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Likewise, she’s an activist for body positivity.

Amanda Lepore

Amanda Lepore was a Club Kid in the NYC nightlife scene. She’s actually been photographed by Terry Richardson, David LaChapelle, and Ruben van Schalm. Likewise, she’s collaborated with CAMP and Swatch brands.

Candis Cayne

Candis Cayne became known on the drag scene and in the underground NYC nightclubs in the 1990s. Then, she got famous when she appeared on a television show called Dirty Sexy Money on the ABC network.

Alexis Arquette

Alexis Arquette was a therapist, acting teacher, poet, and activist. She performed under Eva Destruction, eventually coming out as transgender. Her transition happened in 2014, but she passed away in 2016 because of HIV complications.

Trace Lysette

Trace Lysette became known for her role on Transparent, an Amazon show. She was also active in the underground ball scenes of New York City and has appeared in Hustlers, a 2019 film that let her show off those dance moves.

Kate Bornstein

Kate Bornstein is a gender theorist, entertainer, and author. Her writing primarily focuses on eating disorders, gender, and personality disorders. Though she was diagnosed with PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder, she worked hard to get where she is.

Jamie Clayton

Jamie Clayton rose to prominence when she was on Sense8, a Netflix show. The Wachowski sisters created it, and she earned the role of Nomi Marks. Likewise, she appeared as Sasha Booker in Designated Survivor (the third season).

Our Lady J

Our Lady J is a singer, classical pianist, producer, and writer. She’s written and produced many TV series, including Pose and Transparent. Likewise, she’s performed piano at the American Ballet Theater, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Carnegie Hall.

Jake Zyrus

Jake Zyrus is a singer and TV personality who became known after being on the Ellen Degeneres Show. Later, he worked with Andrea Bocelli and David Foster. He claimed that he was thankful for his life as Charice, but he let her go to be free.

Christine Jorgensen

Christine Jorgensen is said to be the first one to ever have gender reassignment surgery. She went to Denmark, which was the only country performing the procedure at the time. When she got back to New York, she was put in the spotlight because of the interest surrounding her.

Alexandra Billings

Alexandra Billings was Davina on Transparent and is actually the second openly transgender person to play a trans character on a television show. She’s been in many shows and also got the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award back in 2016.

Angelica Ross

Angelica Ross has done it all. She’s a trans rights activist, actress, and tech company founder. In fact, she created TransTech Social Enterprise by teaching herself to code, using those skills to empower other trans people.

Zackary Drucker

Zackary Drucker is a multi-media artist and has had her works on display in the Hammer Museum, MOMA PS1, the Museum of Contemporary Art (San Diego), the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Whitney Biennal.

Harmony Santana

Harmony Santana was in Gun Hill Road, a 2011 movie, and this earned her the Independent Spirit Award for the Best Supporting Actress. She was the first trans woman to get that nomination. Then, she became the spokesperson for the Homeless Youth and Bullying.

Calpernia Addams

Calpernia Addams is a transgender rights advocate who was also in the Navy and US Marine Corps. During that last year of service, she came out as being trans. She chose Calpernia as her name because of the Julius Caesar play, penning her own that won the Feminist Fest Award.

Peppermint

Peppermint is a TV star, singer, and actress who started out on RuPaul’s Drag Race in the ninth season. Then, she was Pythio in Head Over Heels, becoming the first-ever transgender person to star in a Broadway show.

Angel Qinan

Angel Qinan is known for her roles in Act Like a Woman, Strut, and Starlet Diner. She also worked with her sister, who is trans, too. Most say that she’s the first transgender model to walk on the runway for the Sacramento Fashion show, and she’s been in many others.

Buck Angel

Buck Angel actually founded the Buck Angel adult film brand. He’s one of the most famous transgender men in the world, spending much of his time advocating for those rights.  In fact, he’s a pioneer for transitioning through hormone therapy, completing the process at 28 years old.

Dorce Gamalama

Dorce Gamalama is a trans actress, TV personality, and pop star from Indonesia. She was part of the entertainment group called Bambang Brothers, which is where she opened up about her dysphoria and gender issues.

Jahna Steele

Jahna Steel was a Las Vegas showgirl in 1991 and was voted as the Sexiest Showgirl on the Strip. She’s also won other awards, such as Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year and Most Beautiful Showgirl. Sadly, she died in 2008.

Laura Jane Grace

Laura Jane Grace is the guitarist and lead singer for Against Me. She chose to share about her gender dysphoria experience, writing a book about her situation. She has done a lot for trans people, especially at a time when not a lot of people were open about their gender dysphoria.