10 amazing trans men you didn't learn about in history class

Alan Hart

Alan L. Hart was an American radiologist, physician, and tuberculosis researcher who pioneered the use of x-ray photography in tuberculosis detection. The tuberculosis screening programs he implemented saved countless lives. Hart was also one of the first documented transgender men to undergo surgical transition in the United States at the University of Oregon Medical School. Hart married Inez Stark, but when a medical school classmate outed him, the resulting blow to his career and financial strain took a toll on their marriage and she left him in 1923.

His second marriage to Edna Ruddick in 1925 lasted until the end of Hart’s life. After obtaining a master’s in public health from Yale, Hart moved with Edna to Connecticut, and she became a professor at the University of Hartford as he continued his work to fight TB. In addition to his medical research, Hart was a prolific writer. He published four novels and a number of short stories.

Charley Parkhurst

Also known as One-Eyed Charley, Charley Parkhurst was an American farmer, rancher, and stagecoach driver in California. He was born in New England and raised in an orphanage, but ran away and took the name Charley. He followed the Gold Rush out west and built a reputation as one of the finest stage coach drivers on the West Coast. Parker was only outed after death.

Dr. James Barry

A trailblazing physician and military surgeon, James Barry is renowned for being the first European recorded to perform a successful C-section in Africa, which both mother and child survived. Born in Ireland, Barry graduated from medical school in Edinburgh before serving in the British Army. His career was marked by his fierce advocacy for public health reforms, particularly in sanitation and care for marginalized groups. Though it wasn’t until after his death that it was discovered Barry was transgender, Barry’s life is a testament to resilience, brilliance, and the pursuit of justice in medicine.

Harry Allen

Known as “Harry Livingstone,” Harry Allen was a bold and unapologetic figure in early 20th-century Washington state. A trans man, Harry gained notoriety for run-ins with the law, including bar fights and drunkenness. He was also a notorious ladies' man, with several of his paramours reportedly ending their lives themselves following the heartbreak by Allen.

Arrested in 1911 in Spokane, Washington, the chief of the police tried to force Harry to wear feminine clothing, going so far as to threaten Harry with solitary confinement. He refused, choosing to wear his male garbs throughout his stay. Allen’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of trans men in history who dared to live as themselves despite societal backlash.

Michael Dillon

Michael Dillon made history as the first trans man to transition using testosterone and phalloplasty procedures medically. A British physician and author, he wrote Self: A Study in Endocrinology and Ethics, advocating for compassionate care for trans individuals. Dillon’s journey from a deeply closeted life to a groundbreaking transition story inspires trans communities worldwide.