This time line features key historical events involving FTM transgender and transsexual people. It is by no means complete, and is lacking in non-American content, but the time line is intended to grow over time with user contributions.
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Note: The time line was hosted on a service that is now closed. The following list of events was included in the original time line.
Events on FTM Trans History Timeline
- Kylar Broadus becomes the first trans person ever to testify before the US Senate
Jun 12, 2012 — Kylar Broadus becomes the first trans person ever to testify before the US Senate (re: ENDA.) - Kye Allums becomes first out trans person to compete at Division I NCAA
2010 — Kye Allums becomes the first out trans person to compete at a Division I NCAA institution. - The Cliks release Dirty King with cover art showing FTM Top Surgery scars
Jun 23, 2009 — The Cliks release their third album, Dirty King. The cover art shows a topless Lucas Silveira, making Dirty King the first major label release to feature a photo of FTM Top Surgery scars.The Cliks were also the first band with an open trans man as a leader signed by a major record label. - Chaz Bono announces transition
Jun 11, 2009 — Chaz Bono’s publicist confirms that Bono has been undergoing a physical and social gender transition from female to male. - Stephen Thorne becomes highest-ranking out transgender law enforcement official in the U.S.
Oct 9, 2008 — Stephen Thorne, the first transgender SFPD police officer, becomes the highest-ranking out transgender law enforcement official in the U.S. - Keelin Godsey attempts to make US Olympic team as an out trans athlete
2008 — Keelin Godsey attempting to make the US Olympic team as an out trans athlete (2008 and 2012.) - Thomas Beatie named the first “legally” pregnant man on record.
Mar 25, 2008 — Thomas Beatie named the first “legally” pregnant man on record. - TV-show “The L Word” introduces a FTM transsexual character
2006 — Cult favorite TV-show, “The L Word,” introduces a female-to-male transsexual. Max (Moira) is the first regularly-occurring FTM character in the history of television *and* the first transgender character to transition during the course of a show. - Transsistahs-Transbrothas Conferences
2005 to 2006 — Transsistahs-Transbrothas Conferences in Louisville that led to other African-American themed trans conferences. - Robert Eads dies of ovarian cancer
1999 — Robert Eads dies of ovarian cancer. A trans man, Eads is denied treatment by more than two dozen doctors out of fears that taking him on as a patient might be an embarrassment to their practice. His story is told (in his own words) in the award-winning documentary, “Southern Comfort.” - Loren Rex Cameron protests Gay Games
1998 — Transgender activists protest exclusion from the Gay Games in Amsterdam. The Gay Games reinstates rules that require “documented completion of sex change or two years of hormones” before allowing transgender individuals to compete. Loren Rex Cameron, expected to compete, drops out of competition in protest. - Japan allows first FTM SRS
1998 — Japan allows first legal Sex Reassignment Surgery to be performed on a FTM. - Leslie Feinberg publishes Transgender Warriors
1997 — Trans activist Leslie Feinberg publishes Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman, a who’s who of transgender people throughout world history that traces the roots of transgender oppression. - First All FTM Conference of the Americas
1995 — “All FTM Conference of the Americas” organized by Jamison Green & Jason Cromwell. - Death of Brandon Teena
1993 — Death of Brandon Teena. His story is later retold with an Oscar-winning performance in the movie, Boys Don’t Cry. - Patrick Califia begins transition
1993 to 1997 — Prominent and respected lesbian writer, activist and therapist Pat (now Patrick) Califia comes out as a trans man, and begins his transition to male. - Jamison Green transforms FTM newsletter into FTM International Inc.
1991 — FTM activist Jamison “James” Green takes over Lou Sullivan’s FTM newsletter and transforms it into FTM International, Inc. - Billy Tipton dies
1989 — Billy Tipton, a minor, but well respected, jazz musician, bleeds to death from an ulcer, rather than seek medical help. He is discovered to be biologically female, after presenting as a man since 1933. - Lou Sullivan founds FTM International
1986 — Lou Sullivan founds FTM International. The following year, FTM International Newsletter begins publication. - Dr. Alan Hart identified as “H”
1976 — Jonathan Ned Katz publishes the connection between Gilbert’s “H” and Alan Hart. He also incorrectly characterizes Dr. Hart as a “lesbian,” effectively stealing transgender history. - First Metoidioplasty performed
1970 to 1979 — Metoidioplasty is developed for female-to-male transsexuals. (1970s, specific year debated.) - Reed Erickson founds the EEF
1964 — Reed Erickson founds the Erickson Educational Foundation (EEF). - First single stage phalloplasty performed
1958 — The first complete single-surgery Phalloplasty for gender reassignment purposes is performed by Dr. Judy T. Wu in Bratsk, Russia. - Michael Dillon becomes the first FTM transsexual to complete SRS
1949 — Michael Dillon becomes the first female-to-male transsexual to complete sex-change operation procedures after a series of 13 phalloplasty operations performed in London over a four-year period. - Michael Dillon using testosterone therapy.
1939 — Michael Dillon becomes the first FTM transsexual to use testosterone therapy. - Colonel Sir Victor Barker, born female, marries
1932 — Colonel Sir Victor Barker, born female, marries Elfrida Haward in Brighton. - Study of Dr. Alan Hart’s transition published
1920 — Dr. Jonathan Gilbert publishes “Homosexuality and Its Treatment” the story of “H”, Dr. Alan Hart’s 1917 FTM transition. - Psychiatrist makes historical SRS recommendation
Jul 1, 1917 to Jul 1, 1918 — Dr. Jonathan Gilbert recommends a hysterectomy for Dr. Alan Hart, marking a major milestone in transsexual history: the first time a psychiatrist recommended the removal of a healthy organ based solely on an individual’s gender identity. - FTM surgeries in Berlin
1912 — FTM surgeries performed on transsexuals in Berlin. - Karl M. Baer gains full legal recognition of his gender identity
1907 — Karl M. Baer becomes one of the first transsexual people to gain full legal recognition of his gender identity and to have a new birth certificate issued reflecting his new gender. - Karl M. Baer becomes one of the first to undergo SRS
Dec 1906 — Karl M. Baer, a German-Israeli author, social worker, reformer, suffragette and Zionist, becomes one of the first people to undergo SRS. - Trans Man Arrested in Canada
1847 — McCormick of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is taken into custody after having lived in various male personas for about 3 years after he made a marriage proposal to a woman. - Robert Shurtliff, first known FTM US soldier, joins the army.
1782 — Deborah Sampson, the first known FTM US soldier, joins the American army under the name Robert Shurtliff. He had previously fought in the Continental Army. His biological sex is discovered the following year and he receives an honorable discharge. With the help of Paul Revere, Sampson receives a pension of 34 pounds starting in 1792. - Queen Christina of Sweden becomes Count Dohna
Jan 1, 1654 — Queen Christina of Sweden abdicates the throne and takes on a male persona, Count Dohna. - Lucian writes about Megilla
Jul 1, 125 AD to Jul 1, 180 AD — Lucian writes about Megilla, a FTM who shaved his head and lived as a man “in every way.”
Other Trans History Time Lines:
- Transgender Timeline – LAMBDA Archives
- Pivotal Trans Historical Events and Personalities
- Timeline of Historical Transgender Events and Mental Health Care
- Trans Timeline
- Transgender Timeline
- Transgender Forward – A timeline of significant moments in the transgender movement
- Transgender Visibility Timeline – 1952-2012
- Transgender Visibility Timeline – 2013-2014
Also see: Brief History of FTM Trans Civilization
I was born female in 1963 and after women won the right to play baseball in Little League Baseball through Title IX in 1974, I played in 1975 on the Boston Red Sox little League in Coventry Rhode Island. I began my transition in 1996 with my legal name change in 2000 and relocation from the east coast to California a week to the day after 911. I’ve raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren that I am Papa too.
I transitioned at Contra Costa ARC as a Program Coordinator for adults with developmental disabilities. At the same time I transitioned I also worked as a drug and alcohol counselor at REACH Project Inc. I was the first transgendered person that had ever worked at either agency. I’ve been a drug and alcohol counselor since 2003 and worked with ARC for over 10 years.
Diego Sanchez- Barney Frank’s aide first out transgender Capitol Hill staffer