Before Gender

Praise

“Brilliant . . . [A]n essential and eye-opening paradigm shift.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Trans readers will find powerful validation within Before Gender, and all readers will learn history that helps them make sense of our current moment. As Erlick quotes activist José Rizal in the afterword: ‘Know history, know self. No history, no self.’”
—BookPage, Starred Review

“Erlick powerfully—and compellingly—argues that it’s not the existence of transgender people that’s new; what’s new is the anxiety around them.”
—Library Journal

“[A] riveting, compassionate collection of life stories . . . The historical biographies collected in Before Gender show that, while society’s language about gender has changed, trans people have always been part of communities around the world—and that it’s crucial to get to know their stories.”
—Foreword Reviews

“We are so lucky to have a gifted storyteller unearth these lost tales of our trans and nonbinary forebears, and weave them all together into this heartwarming, uplifting book. Before Gender shows that history can be both entertaining and impactful while addressing the most pressing issues for trans people today.”
—Kate Bornstein, author of Gender Outlaw

“An eye-opening read, crisply written, on such a timely topic.”
—Susan Stryker, author of Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution

“With this tour de force history of thirty trans people from 1850 to 1950, Eli Erlick shows us a whole new side to trans narratives that both informs and entertains.”
—Riki Wilchins, author of Queer Theory/Gender Theory

“Not only have trans people always existed; we have always sought ways to live fuller and more authentic lives. Before Gender chronicles trans people from 1850 to 1950 growing up, working, falling in love, getting in trouble, playing sports, and building community as we’ve always done and always will do.”
—Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer