├── trans_ref.md ├── Anime_trans.md ├── README.md ├── TransAPI.json ├── queer_gods.txt ├── famous_trans_people.csv └── LGBT_in_mythology.txt /trans_ref.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | 2 | # references for Trans information 3 | 4 | https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Gender_variance_in_spirituality 5 | 6 | https://wiki.ubc.ca/Issues_Faced_By_LGBTQ%2B_Youth_in_India 7 | 8 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /Anime_trans.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # Anime characters 2 | 3 | - Asked ChatGPT 4 | 5 | there are some anime characters that are transgender or are depicted as such. Here are a few examples: 6 | 7 | Lily Hoshikawa from "Zombieland Saga": Lily is a trans girl who was assigned male at birth. 8 | Her character is portrayed in a positive and respectful way, and her gender identity is accepted and celebrated by her friends. 9 | 10 | Hana from "Tokyo Godfathers": Hana is a transgender woman who is one of the main characters in the movie. 11 | Her character is treated with respect and dignity, and her gender identity is not a source of ridicule or humor. 12 | 13 | Shuichi Nitori from "Wandering Son": Shuichi is a transgender boy who struggles with gender identity 14 | and coming out to his family and friends. The anime depicts his experiences with sensitivity and nuance. 15 | 16 | Mari from "Princess Jellyfish": Mari is a trans woman who is a supporting character in the anime. 17 | She is portrayed as a strong and confident woman who is comfortable with her gender identity. 18 | 19 | It's worth noting that while there are anime characters who are depicted as transgender, 20 | the representation of transgender people in anime and other media can be limited and may not always be accurate or respectful. 21 | It's important to approach such representations critically and to seek out the perspectives of 22 | actual transgender people to gain a better understanding of their experiences. 23 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /README.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # TransRest_API 🏳️‍⚧️ 2 | 3 | A repo for Transgender Affirmations. 4 | 5 | > Note: This API is running on a **FREE plan** which is 500 hours per month of active run time. If and when the run time is >500 hours it shuts down and needs to be restarted the following month. So if this API is not working, then this is why. 6 | 7 | ## Genesis 🏳️‍⚧️ 8 | 9 | The idea is a combination of a conversation about Transgender people needing to take a break and rest. 10 | The word association of rest is Restful API, 11 | then Trans + Rest + API became TransRest_API. 12 | 13 | 14 | ## Data 🏳️‍⚧️ 15 | 16 | The data is positive affirmations and neutral sayings regarding 17 | being Transgender. All affirmations are gender neutral so _everyone_ 18 | is included. The affirmations data is mostly in English, 19 | but you can help it have more than English. 20 | 21 | ## Data Guideline 🏳️‍⚧️ 22 | 23 | Adding to the json file includes 24 | 25 | - affirmations that are gender neutral 26 | - affirmations that can apply to most people on their Transgender journey 27 | 28 | ### Adding Persons 🏳️‍⚧️ 29 | 30 | This data has famous Transgender people, the affirmations have everyone as living and 31 | uses the question of _"if you could have lunch with any famous person, 32 | who would you have lunch with?"_ as basis for affirmations involving the end user. 33 | The end user needs to be part of the narrative with famous person in some relation 34 | to their profession. 35 | 36 | - any Transgender person who is publically known, has stated pronouns, their profession/ what they do and some fiction about how they will interact with the end user. 37 | - `profession` + `pronouns` + `fiction` 38 | 39 | ``` 40 | "Actress Laverne Cox (she/her) has a TV scene that mentions your blog" 41 | ``` 42 | 43 | ### Adding Characters 🏳️‍⚧️ 44 | 45 | You can add Transgender or GNC characters from TV shows/ films. 46 | Characters not formally Transgender but are considered Trans are 47 | accepted, example Star Trek Jadzia Dax. All characters needs to have the TV/film where the character is from. 48 | 49 | This section can have: 50 | 51 | - basic info on the character 52 | - fiction that includes the end user 53 | - what this character does 54 | - any superpowers this character has 55 | 56 | - `(origin)` + `name` + `pronouns` + `option` 57 | 58 | ``` 59 | Star Trek Jadzia Dax (she/her) is a Trill species, which embodies other genders 60 | ``` 61 | 62 | ### Adding Exoplanets 🏳️‍⚧️ 63 | 64 | A section of this data are names of [NASA Exoplanets](https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/TblView/nph-tblView?app=ExoTbls&config=PSCompPars) in 65 | the attempts to add to positive Sci-Fi thinking and affirmations. 66 | This is one part truth (exoplanet) and one part fiction or affirmation that 67 | is overall positive. 68 | 69 | - `Exoplanet name` + `fiction` 70 | - `Exoplanet name` + `affirmation` 71 | 72 | Fiction 73 | ``` 74 | Planet CD Cet b (CD Cet) is known for their Transgender services 75 | ``` 76 | 77 | Affirmation 78 | ``` 79 | You must come from the EPIC planets, EPIC 206024342 b, c and d 80 | ``` 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /TransAPI.json: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | 2 | 3 | { 4 | "affirmations" : [ 5 | "Everyday you are a shining star", 6 | "You are as natural as the sunset, where the clouds are pink in a blue sky", 7 | "You are special, you have something that no one else has", 8 | "you are rockin' it", 9 | "some people don't know how awesome you are", 10 | "take a few minutes, breathe, say something positive about yourself", 11 | "only you have the PhD in the study of you", 12 | "the binary was never meant to hold you", 13 | "the binary is for computers", 14 | "binaries are old-fashioned, you're open source, 100% \"libre\"", 15 | "your 3 lucky colors are #51C5FA, #FB8190, #FCECFF", 16 | "fun fact: Transgender people are awesome, even when you don't feel like it", 17 | "your difference is the special sauce in the recipe of life", 18 | "don't let them win, you are strong enough to make it", 19 | "everyone is on their journey, it's okay to be unsure", 20 | "how you feel is legit", 21 | "you are made with 100% astronomy, you are a star", 22 | "not everyday will feel like this", 23 | "your lactose-free nut milk milkshake brings all the non-binary people to the yard", 24 | "truth hurts that you are so wonderful and others have issues with that", 25 | "gender euphoria, that feels good as hell", 26 | "the gender affirming people are so lovely", 27 | "make a chatbot to say positive gender affirmations outloud to you", 28 | "some of us are struggling, some of us are soaring, there is no binary", 29 | "living your truth takes courage, safety, strength, and determination", 30 | "in Sci-Fi fantasy we exist, here on Earth we do too", 31 | "it's not like everyday a cisgender person questions their gender in a meaningful way", 32 | "your gender today can change, it's not written in stone, and if it were, you can break it", 33 | "computer code is binary, but we run on special software", 34 | "grey skies today, sunshine tomorrow", 35 | "being Trans is special, you get to redo parts of life", 36 | "your trauma does not define you, be kind to yourself", 37 | "being Transgender is the calculus of social construct of gender, the study of change", 38 | "your future self will want to see you shining", 39 | "not all of society sees you, but fellow Trans people do", 40 | "today [do that gender thing], or don't, do whatever you want!", 41 | "in the shower, shower yourself with soap and compliments", 42 | "live in the infinity of love and self acceptance", 43 | "CONGRATS! You just won a high five!", 44 | "you were entered into a contest, you won!", 45 | "Jadzia Dax considers you a friend and lovely person", 46 | "try to not let the haters live rent free in your head, that's valued property", 47 | "similar to your computer, you can delete the pre-installed gender software", 48 | "some traditions die, some become lifesavers", 49 | "REMINDER: breathe, say something positive about yourself", 50 | "Transgender people found the gender cheatcodes", 51 | "you are valid, your gender is valid, your pronouns are valid", 52 | "did you know that you don't have to a role model for the Trans community", 53 | "REMINDER: drink some water, stay hydrated", 54 | "each day in your truth you get closer to knowing yourself", 55 | "you can write it down, then make editorial changes, make yourself feel better", 56 | "life is full of prizes, some of us don't know it yet", 57 | "Tegan & Sara said you're walking with a ghost", 58 | "you got the body humps in all the right places", 59 | "you are the very definition of Biology, diversity", 60 | " Play 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor, say it to yourself", 61 | "What a Wonderful World, especially with you in it", 62 | "any day you leave your home as yourself, you are brave, bold and badass", 63 | "ain't no gender euphoria is enough", 64 | " Play 'Beautiful' by Christina Aguilera", 65 | " Play 'I m Still Standing' by Elton John", 66 | "let the world hear your roar", 67 | "you can burst with pride and joy, be a starburst", 68 | "before 1492 Transgender people existed like me and you", 69 | "you have the power, you got the power, YOU GOT THE POWER", 70 | "Transgender people are Marvelous humanoids with super powers", 71 | "between the ears is something special, handle with care", 72 | "SHIPMENT UPDATE: your box of self love has been delivered", 73 | "your Transgender realness token is A76L8H1WA6X", 74 | "you have admin priviledges on your gender", 75 | "the traffic light is green, you can keep going, you are doing great", 76 | "Tip: use BASH commands for your gender, touch pronouns , rm *.patriarchy", 77 | "take this promo code UMATTER and get yourself a treat", 78 | "REMINDER: self.care is an act of love", 79 | "REMINDER: self.care is important", 80 | "being in Stealth_Mode is okay, be safe", 81 | "wear socks & underwear that is gender affirming, small wins matter", 82 | "gender is software, it changes and there is no one way to run software", 83 | "if Farrokh Bulsara can change his name (Freddie Mercury), you can too.", 84 | "the real owners of Bath & Body Works are Trans people", 85 | "your pronouns can be returned if they don't fit you", 86 | "give yourself a compliment, you earned it", 87 | "Transgender care is best served with love and acceptance, especially within yourself", 88 | "loving yourself can take time, can be a struggle, but keep trying", 89 | "Trans people exist in all parts of society, you exist, we exist", 90 | "caring for yourself is not only for holidays", 91 | "try to have the confidence of a white cisgender heterosexual man", 92 | "hormones, we all have them, some of us want more of a specifc type", 93 | "your plane of existence can be in higher dimensions, use your Trans cheatcodes", 94 | "some people live by 1 book, Trans people have many books", 95 | "your daily gender password is: noBinary4me", 96 | "your daily gender password is: GenderSpectrumPass", 97 | "your daily gender password is: careBear_countdown", 98 | "your daily gender password is: transRage", 99 | "your daily gender password is: transHistory", 100 | "your daily gender password is: transThemstory", 101 | "your daily gender password is: youRvalid", 102 | "{The Matrix} you now know karate and taekwondo", 103 | "the say you are the Oracle or you worked there", 104 | "expect yourself to find joy in your gender journey", 105 | "we all have gender neutral bathrooms in our homes", 106 | "find something today that makes you laugh!", 107 | "gender is like a tea bag, you can steep in a gender, let it get stronger", 108 | "on your calendar it says you have 5 minutes to say something nice about yourself", 109 | "your gender is 100% naturally grown, ethically sourced", 110 | "YOU WANT THE TRUTH? you are wonderful", 111 | "gender is a daily iteration", 112 | "name one part of you that you like", 113 | "your energy is not an endless supply, you need to rest", 114 | "for G in gender_spectrum : print( gender_spectrum[ G ] )", 115 | "the rainbow lives inside you, let the world see all the colors", 116 | "the Trans community Blockchain appreciates you", 117 | "you can survive, but also thrive", 118 | "hit the like and subscribe button for your _self_ positivity", 119 | "this is a digital hug :: hug ::, it is for you", 120 | "REMINDER: breathe, drink some water, say the word LOVE", 121 | "loving yourself despite of all the negativity is an act of defiance", 122 | "the pronouns you use are valid", 123 | "only mushrooms grow in the dark, find the light, even some of it", 124 | "Apple says 'Think Different' but Orange you happy you are?", 125 | "there is no one true way in being Trans", 126 | "you are doing the best you can, and that is good", 127 | "you can cry, you can scream, you can even enjoy some ice cream", 128 | "fun fact: gender has n! permutations", 129 | "Trans Rage Against the cishet normcore Machine want you to join the band", 130 | "your daily gender cheatcode: up up down down left right left right B A", 131 | "your daily gender cheatcode: IDDQD {Doom invincibility}", 132 | "your daily gender cheatcode: up right right down up kick kick jump", 133 | "your daily gender cheatcode: back back jump punch punch B", 134 | "your daily gender cheatcode: fwd fwd up up A B", 135 | "your daily gender cheatcode: back fwd down up jump jump", 136 | "your daily gender cheatcode: jump fwd fwd jump B jump", 137 | "your daily gender cheatcode: B A fwd fwd A jump", 138 | "your daily gender cheatcode: how do you turn this on", 139 | "WIFI passcode: whiteBluePink", 140 | "WIFI passcode: construct2destruct", 141 | "WIFI passcode: BLACKTRANSLIVESMATTER", 142 | "WIFI passcode: hackURgender", 143 | "WIFI passcode: lessGenderRoles_morePizzaRoles ", 144 | "WIFI passcode: hackTheBinary", 145 | "WIFI passcode: TransIsBeautiful", 146 | "gender is like water, it is fluid, yet powerful", 147 | "every day is a new opportunity to affirm your existence", 148 | 149 | "# rm -rf gender_roles gender_stereotypes gender_assigned_at_birth && deluser patriarchy sudoers && chown me gender_identity", 150 | "Operation completed successfully: you now have administration rights for your own gender identity.", 151 | "Transphobes are draining your battery faster. Switch to your trans friends for up to 75% more gender euphoria.", 152 | "Your computer is running low on storage space. We can create some space by deleting Cisnormativity.", 153 | "transphobia.exe: This application failed to start because hate.dll was not found.", 154 | "If someone asks about your gender or transition, you can just say: \"I got an update\"!", 155 | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | "Robot is Czech for 'slave.' You are human, not a robot. You have the right to have boundaries.", 160 | "They say trans folks are obsessed with sex. Is there a culture that isn't?", 161 | "You're not obsessed with gender. You are on a journey of self-discovery.", 162 | "It is okay to try and understand yourself.", 163 | "It is okay to feel good about being trans.", 164 | "Gender Euphoria is a thing.", 165 | "The sky doesn't answer why it's blue. The grass needn't explain its greenness. You don't have to justify yourself.", 166 | "You are a star. You are allowed to take up space." 167 | 168 | 169 | 170 | ], 171 | "Transgender_People" : [ 172 | "Singer Jake Zyrus (he/him) invites you to lunch, what will you ask him?", 173 | "Entertainer Marie-Pier Ysser (she/her) invites you to a show, what will you ask her?", 174 | "Cyclist & Journalist Philippa York (she/her) wants write article on you, what will she write about?", 175 | "Electronic Musician Sophie Xeon (no prounouns), sends you a demo song, what will your review be?", 176 | "YouTuber Natalie Wynn (ContraPoints) (she/her) wants your advice on something, what advice do you have?", 177 | "Video Ganer & Website creator Narcissa Wright is going to make a website for you, you won a prize!", 178 | "Actor & performer Holly Woodlawn (she/her) is going to star in your Sci-Fi story", 179 | "Soldier Joanne Wingate (she/her) agrees, she thinks you are badass", 180 | "Writer Jia Qing Wilson-Yang (she/her) is thinking of adding character based of you, what character are you?", 181 | "Computer Scientist Sophie Wilson (she/her) checked the source code, you are valid", 182 | "Activist & organizer @ Transgender Law Center Raquel Willis (she/her) wants you to volunteer, make a speech", 183 | "Drag Queen Kornbread Jeté (Demoria E. Williams) (she/her) wants to sit down and spill the tea with you", 184 | "Barbara Ann Wilcox, (she/her) one of the 1st Trans persons to legally change their name has a lecture and you are invited to go", 185 | "Lawyer/ Writer/ Activist Stephen Whittle (he/him) has an education workshop, you got tickets!", 186 | "YouTuber Blaire White (she/her) mentioned you by name! ", 187 | "Climatologist & Activist Penny Whetton (she/her) has research showing you are hot", 188 | "Musician & Artist Janine Wegman (she/her) has a song and art piece that is about you", 189 | "Civil Rights Activist Brianna Westbrook (she/her) says ROCK THE VOTE, you gotta vote for yourself", 190 | "Actor Lachlan Watson (they/them) has an improve scene with you ", 191 | "Actress Annie Wallace (she/her) says you can be at times melodramatic", 192 | "Film TV Director Lily Wachowski (she/her) has a new special role for you to play in the next Matrix film", 193 | "Film TV Director Lana Wachowski (she/her) has a new special role for you to play in the next Matrix film", 194 | "Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Anne Viriato (she/her) said she will beat up your enemies", 195 | "TV anchor Rose Venkatesan (she/her) wants to do an article on why you are so wonderful", 196 | "Actress & Singer Daniela Vega (she/her) wants to write a opera love ballad about you", 197 | "Professional Cyclist Natalie van Gogh (she/her) wants to ride bikes with you this weekend", 198 | "Eastern Airlines pilot who got fired Karen Ulane (she/her) is going to have a lecture, you are not busy that night", 199 | "TV Reporter/ Scientist Zoey Tur (she/her) has a new article on how wonderful you are", 200 | "Professional Wrestler Gabbi Tuft (she/her) will body slam those who oppose you !", 201 | "Software Developer Justine Tunney (she/her) says your pre-installed gender was wrong, you now have the one you need", 202 | "Writer & Actress Gabrielle Trembley (she/her) is going to play a role based on you, how awesome", 203 | "Artist & Politician Manuela Trasobares (she/her) has a new art piece inspired by you", 204 | "Actress Josie Totah (she/her) has a scene based on your life", 205 | "Politician & Activist Brianna Titone (she/her) says you gotta fight for your right", 206 | "Musician Billy Tipton (he/him) wrote a song about the positivity you share with the world", 207 | "Activist Efrat Tilma (she/her) says your voice matters in the fight", 208 | "Video Game Developer Maddy Thorston (she/her) says you are a special character in the game of life", 209 | "Writer Jeanne Thornton (she/her) wants to do a story in Rocksalt Magazine on you ", 210 | "YouTuber (Philosophy Tube) Abigail Thorn (she/her) mentioned how important you are to the Trans community", 211 | "TV Presenter Ramon Te Wake (she/her) thinks you are special, special edition ", 212 | "Voice Actress Maddie Taylor (she/her) is asking how you say 'i look stunning' ?", 213 | "Scientist Robyn Leigh Tanguay (she/her) reviewed the evidence, it is indeed true you are valid in your gender", 214 | "Free Software Programmer Audrey Tang (she/her) says you have special code in your self love software update ", 215 | "Model & Beauty Pageant contestant Jenna Talackova (she/her) wnats to do some photoshoots with you", 216 | "Singer & Model Cindy Thái Tài (she/her) has a song about your fierceness in life", 217 | "Fashion Model Lea T (she/her) wants to do some Instagram photos with you", 218 | "Singer / Activist Titica (she/her) says you shine bright", 219 | "Author & Activist Lou Sullivan (he/him) has a some advice, try to stay positive", 220 | "Model & Actress Stav Strashko (she/her) is interested in some Instagram posts with you ", 221 | "Cartoonist / Animation producer of She-Ra (2020) ND Stevenson (he/him) wants to animate you as a character", 222 | "Speaker & Activist Abby Stein (she/her) has invited you to a Jewish deli for lunch", 223 | "Las Vegas Showgirl Jahna Steele (she/her) is wondering if you want to to go to a show", 224 | "Politician Susan Stanton (she/her) understands wins and setbacks, she gets it", 225 | "Musician Rae Spoon (they/them) has a song for you", 226 | "Drag Queen Sonique (she/her) invited you to her show", 227 | "First Transgender nominee to US Senate Misty Snow (she/her) is fighting for you ", 228 | "Activist & Founder of TDOR Gwendolyn Ann Smith (she/her) wants you to keep going ", 229 | "Actor Brian Michael Smith (he/him) seen in The L Word , is interested in grabbing coffee with you", 230 | "First Transgender person elected to the German parliament Nyke Slawik loves your climate friendly actions", 231 | "YouTuber (Cavetown) Robin D. Skinner (he/they) have a song about how great you are ", 232 | "Singer Noah Skaalum (he/him) sings about the struggles and triumphs you face ", 233 | "Rock Musician Lucas Silveira (he/him) the 1st openly Transgender man to have a major record deal, knows the struggle ", 234 | "Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at U of Calgary Vivek Shraya (she/her) wants you to express ypurself", 235 | "R&B Singer Jackie Shane (she/her) wants you to move your body in a positive way and direction", 236 | "PhD Julia Serano (she/her) of 'Whipping Girl' book fame & 'transmisogny' has a SLAM poetry event, you booked your spot " 237 | 238 | ], 239 | "NASA_planets": [ 240 | "Planet Cyb B b (16 Cyg B) is a planet you can rule over", 241 | "Planet 17 Sco b has voted President", 242 | "Planet 4 UMa b is a planet that needs U ", 243 | "You just won the Exoplanet lottery, you now own 55 Cnc b, c, d, e, and f", 244 | "Some planets are a throuple like 61 Vir b, 61 Vir c and 61 Vir d", 245 | "select a Exoplanet: AU Mic b or AU Mic c", 246 | "planet tau Gem b is for Geminis", 247 | "when you see XO, think of the planets XO-1 b, XO-2, XO-3 ... XO-7", 248 | "Planet UZ For c and b are safe for vacation", 249 | "have tea at the trendy new planet, Teegarden's Star c (star b isn't as good)", 250 | "if you like Trap music, then we suggest TRAPPIST-1 h (g,f,e,d,c,b are back albums)", 251 | "every Trans person gets to have a TOI planet, options include TOI-969 c or b", 252 | "you won the sweepstakes! You won the planets SWEEPS-4 b and SWEEPS-11 b !!", 253 | "those gender affirming clothes come from planets Ross 508 b, 458 c and 128 b", 254 | "your DNA comes from the planet ROXs 42 B b, 'cuz you rocks baby! ", 255 | "if you're a Virgo from NY, NY Vir c or b is place to check out", 256 | "my eye makeup comes from the planet MASCARA-4 b, maturally sourced ", 257 | "planet LHS 3844 b, is Lovely Health Services 3844 " 258 | ] 259 | } 260 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /queer_gods.txt: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | #20Questions 2 | #Activism 3 | #Beyoncé 4 | #Bisexual 5 | #BlackLivesMatter 6 | #Celebrities 7 | #ColtonHaynes 8 | #ComingOut 9 | #Dating 10 | #Disney 11 | #FirstPerson 12 | #FrankOcean 13 | #Geek 14 | #GOT 15 | #Interviews 16 | #Kesha 17 | #Lesbian 18 | #LaverneCox 19 | #LadyGaga 20 | #LGBTQ+ 21 | #LoveSimon 22 | #Men 23 | #Music 24 | #Movies 25 | #Netflix 26 | #NickJonas 27 | #OITNB 28 | #Pride 29 | #Queer 30 | #Rihanna 31 | #RuPaulsDragRace 32 | #Sex 33 | #StarWars 34 | #Style 35 | #Travel 36 | #TroyeSivan 37 | #TV 38 | #Women 39 | #ZaynMalik 40 | By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. 41 | 52 Queer Gods Who Ruled Ancient History 42 | You didn't know we were so divine.  43 | People have worshiped queer gods and deities for millennia. Mortals throughout history looked to the gods for guidance, love, and acceptance regardless of sexuality. In this dive through history, we explore 52 immortals who enjoyed same-sex relationships. 44 | A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? Male lovers in the Trojan War? While tolerance is often presented as a sign of civilization’s advancement, a reading of Greek mythology reveals greater acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Athens than can be boasted within today’s world religions. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention.  45 | 1. Achilles 46 | The Greek hero Achilles was invulnerable excepting his famous weak heel, but a male shieldbearer broke through the warrior’s romantic defenses. While Homer never explicitly states a gay relationship between Achilles and sidekick Patroclus, many scholars read a romantic connection between the two, as only Patroclus ever drew out a compassionate side to the famously arrogant warrior. Patroclus’s death at the hands of Trojan Prince Hector sent Achilles into a rage in which he killed Hector and dragged his body around Troy. Other myths also disclose Achilles was struck by the beauty of Troilus, a Trojan prince.  47 | 48 | 2. Zeus 49 | While a famous philanderer who sired countless demigods by every peasant girl in need of an explanation to her parents, Zeus famously selected the young mortal Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus. The relationship provided the foundation of the custom of paiderastia, the practice of Greek men at the time maintaining erotic relationships with adolescent boys on the side. Above: Zeus and Ganymede, artist and date unknown. 50 | 51 | 3. Narcissus 52 | A figure mostly known for his obsessive vanity, this son of a nymph and a river god would spend his last days gazing at his own reflection, but the first man he showed affection for was not himself. A myth traced in origin to the Boeotia region mentions a relationship between Narcissus and the smitten Ameinias, whom Narcissus would eventually grow tired of before sending him a sword as a kiss-off. Ameinias, desperately depressed over the rejection, killed himself.  53 | 54 | 4. Apollo 55 | The sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. Besides dalliances with numerous nymphs, Apollo was also lover to Macedonian Prince Hyakinthos, who died catching a thrown discus, then turned by the god into the hyacinth flower. The Pseudo-Apollodorus also said Apollo had been with Thracian singer Thamyris in the first man-on-man relationship in history. And for those who think same-sex nuptials are a 21st-century invention, Apollo also was in a relationship with Hymen, the god of marriage. Above: Alexander Kiselev, Apollo and Hyacinth (1884) 56 | 57 | 5. Chrysippus 58 | Euripedes wrote that this divine Peloponnesian hero was on the way to compete in the Nemean Games when his Theban tutor Laius ran off with him and raped him. The incident drew a curse upon the city of Thebes. Above: Chrysippus, kidnapped by Laius, looks for his father Pelops running behind the chariot; Volute Krater image (320 B.C.) 59 | 60 | 6. Hermes 61 | The wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. In a variation of the Hyacinth myth, it was Hermes’ lover Crocus who was killed by a discus thrown by a god before being turned into a flower. Some myths suggest a romantic relationship between Hermes and the hero Perseus. And while some stories list Daphnis, the inventor of pastoral poetry, as the son of Hermes, other sources claim him to be the god of speed’s favorite lover.  62 | 7. Pan 63 | Of course, many mythological texts and artworks connect Daphnis to the satyr Pan, god of music. Pan frequently was depicted in sculpture chasing both women and men around with his always-erect penis and oversized scrotum. Half man. Half goat. Bisexual. Size queen. Above: Rossi Domenico, Pan and Apollo (circa 1704), engraving 64 | 8. Dionysus 65 | Best known as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus was also the god of intersex and transgender people. Male lovers of the god included the satyr Ampelos and the famously handsome Adonis. He also once made a journey to Hades and was guided by the shepherd Prosymnus, who led the way in exchange for the chance to make love to the party god. When Prosymnus died before that deal would be consummated, the god created a wood phallus to ritually fulfill the promise, according to research by a number of Christian historians, including Hyginus and Arnobius. Above: Diego Velázquez, The Triumph of Bacchus, a.k.a. Dionysus (1629) 66 | 67 | 9. Heracles 68 | The famous hero had a number of male companions through his many trials. Among them: Abderos, who kept the mares of Diomedes for Heracles but was eaten by the beasts; Hylas, Heracles' companion when he sailed on the Argo, who was eventually kidnapped by nymphs in Mysia; and Iolaus, who help cauterize the necks of the hydra when Heracles famously chopped off the beast’s many heads. Indeed, the relationship with Iolaus was enshrined in Thebes, where male couples of the day could be found “exchanging vows and pledges with their beloved at his tomb,” according to historian Louis Crompton. Above: Hans Sebald Beham, Heracles and Iolaus dispatching the hydra with club and fire 69 | 10. Poseidon 70 | According to Pindar’s First Olympian Ode, Pelops, the king of Pisa, once shared “Aphrodite’s sweet gifts” with the ocean god himself. Pelops for a time was taken to Olympus by Poseidon and trained to drive the divine chariot. Above: Felice Giani, The Marriage of Poseidon and Amphitrite (1802-1805) 71 | 72 | 11. Orpheus 73 | The legendary poet and musician may be best known for the story of his journey to the underworld to retrieve his wife, Eurydice; he failed to do so when he succumbed to temptation and looked at her before both had returned to the world of the living. According to Ovid, he never took another female lover after that — but did love other young men in Thrace. Spurned, Ciconian women would eventually tear Orpheus apart during a Bacchic orgy. Above: John Macallan Swan, Orpheus (1896) 74 | 12. Hermaphroditus 75 | Perhaps the earliest literary reference to an intersex person concerns this child of Hermes and love goddess Aphrodite who as a youth encountered the nymph Salmacis, who attempted to seduce the youth and asked the gods that their forms be permanently joined. The creature of both sexes was frequently depicted in classical art as a figure with womanly breasts and form but with male genitalia.  76 | 13. Callisto 77 | This nymph follower of Artemis took a vow to remain a virgin and could not be tempted even by Zeus, at least in male form. But when Zeus disguised himself as Artemis, she was lured into the goddess’s embrace. Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. Callisto and Arcas were later put in the stars as the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.  78 | 79 | 80 | 14. Artemis 81 | Twin sister to Apollo, the goddess was by differing accounts a nearly asexual virgin or a lesbian with many nymph lovers, including Cyrene, Atalanta, and Anticleia as well as moon goddess Dictynna. By some accounts, she was Callisto’s lover before the nymph was raped by Zeus. Researcher Johanna Hypatia-Cybelaia writes that lesbian and gay devotees worshipped her as Artemis Orthia, and that lesbian port Pamphilia referred to the goddess in hymn as Artemis Pergaea.  82 | 83 | 15. The Amazons 84 | The original race of warrior women, the Amazons of myth lived in a society free of men, one where the powerful women would only have heterosexual sex once or twice a year — for reproductive purposes only — with male slaves abducted from neighboring villages or taken prisoner during wars, according to Strabo. So what happened the rest of the year? Well, many scholars suggest the idea of a lesbian culture is just modern fantasy, though there is art from the time that depicts Amazonian Queen Penthesilia accepting a love gift from a Thracian huntress. Above: Johann Georg Platzer, The Amazon Queen Thalestris in the Camp of Alexander the Great 85 | 86 | 16. Teiresias 87 | The blind prophet of Apollo was most famous in Greek myth for being transformed from a man into a woman for seven years. During his female years, Teiresias became a priestess of Hera, married, and even had children, according to Hesiod. Call him mythology’s original transgender person. After the gods changed him back, Zeus asked who enjoyed sex more, men or women. Teiresias revealed the ladies had it roughly 10 times better than the lads. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. Above: Pentheus Scorns The Prophecies of Tiresias 88 | 17. Athena 89 | The goddess of wisdom and patron of Athens was a virgin by nearly every mythological account but did express a romantic attraction to the Attic maiden Myrmex. However, that ended poorly when Myrmex pretended to have invented the plow, one of Athena’s creations, and Athena turned the girl into an ant. Above: Athena, center, in a mural by John Singer Sargent 90 | 18. Aphrodite 91 | While the goddess of love is not identified prominently as lesbian herself, the Greek poet Sappho (as in sapphic) of Lesbos (yes, as in lesbian) told many homoerotic tales and named Aphrodite as the greatest patron and ally of lesbians and homosexuals within the Greek pantheon of gods. Above: Enrique Simonet, El Juicio de Paris (1904) 92 | 93 | 19. Eros 94 | While the best-known myths of Eros depict the son of Aphrodite as a fertility god — the version that proved inspirational to the popularized Roman god Cupid — later Greek myths portrayed Eros as one of several winged erotes, and the one regarded as  a protector of homosexual culture, according to research in the scholarly book Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World.  95 | 20. Isis 96 | The Egyptian goddess, also worshipped by Greeks, is known for solving a gender identity issue of yore. Iphis was born female but raised male by his mother, who concealed the truth because her husband wanted a male heir. Ultimately, Iphis fell in love with Ianthe, a woman, and was betrothed to her. Before the wedding, Iphis prayed in the Temple of Isis for a solution, and voila! she became a he. As noted on Owlcation, this may have been a heterosexual ending, but the love story was laced with LGBT themes. Above: Isis (seated right) welcoming the Greek heroine Io as she is borne into Egypt on the shoulders of the personified Nile, as depicted in a Roman wall painting from Pompeii. 97 | 98 | While the level of tolerance for LGBT people in ancient Egypt remains subject to debate, the truth can be found in the ostraca. Mythology depicted in hieroglyphics and history revealed on pyramid walls confirms same-sex relationships existed within the culture and lore along the Nile. Many scholars today suggest that while all matters of sex were treated as somewhat taboo, intolerance of homosexuality seemed such a foreign concept that no records show the practice as forbidden. In addition, several intersex figures were not only recorded but celebrated. Here is a review of their stories as well as the other Egyptian deities who fall within the LGBT spectrum. 99 | 100 | 21. Seth 101 | The storm god associated with many natural disasters, Seth was among the more colorful figures in the Egyptian pantheon. Researcher Mark Brustman says Seth, while married to his sister Nephthys, is depicted as engaging in sexual activities with other male deities such as Horus. Seth is also described as having impotent testicles, and he never had a child. This may not be a sign of great tolerance in the culture; Seth was cast in a terribly negative light in many stories. And while his childbearing siblings Osiris and Isis represent life, he represents the desert. This may indicate a certain negative sentiment about gay identity. But many stories show that while Seth could be called a villainous figure, his homosexuality was not what made him so. 102 | 103 | 22. Horus 104 | Many tales about Seth focus on his envy of his nephew Horus, the child of Isis and Orisis. In one tale documented well in Richard Parkinson’s Homosexual Desire and Middle Kingdom Literature, Horus is either raped or seduced into a sexual encounter. Seth intends to embarrass Horus by showing others Horus was the receptive partner in the act. But Horus gets the upper hand, because he secretly captured Seth’s semen, then had his mother Isis feed it back to Seth in his lettuce. When the semen is called forth by Seth in an attempt to humiliate Horus, it comes from Seth instead. Interestingly, the tale shows that ancient Egyptian culture didn’t look down on homosexuality — something heroic Horus engaged in himself — so much as it held being subjugated in low esteem. 105 | 106 | 23. Antinous 107 | This resurrection figure holds ties to ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures. Antinous was a real historical figure and the male companion of the Roman emperor Hadrian. The pair would take journeys around the Mediterranean. And on one trip, Antinous drowned in the Nile on the same day that Egyptians commemorated the watery death of Osiris. Deeply affected by the death of his lover, Hadrian encouraged the deification of Antinous, and cults sprung up around the Mediterranean honoring him. In some tellings, Antinous rose from the Nile after his death and was then revered as a form of Osiris reborn. Indeed, the god and the Roman cult that followed him still have devotees today. 108 | 109 | 24. Atum 110 | In the creation story for the Egyptian gods, the first deity, Atum, was both male and female, according to studies by researcher Mark Burstman. The ancestor to all self-produced two offspring, Shu and Tefnut, through either a sneeze or his own semen, and it wasn’t for a few generations that the archetypal male and female gods of Isis and Osiris were born. 111 | 112 | 25. Nephthys 113 | While there are fewer tales in Egyptian history and mythology about female than male homosexuality, many considered the goddess Nephthys to be a lesbian. The sister and constant companion of Isis, she married brother Seth but bore him no children. Scholars have debated whether the stories of Nephthys, who did bear one son by Osiris, show that the culture held lesbians in greater esteem than gay men, because they could still be fertile despite their sexual orientation. Then again, others express skepticism about her lesbianism altogether. 114 | 115 | 26. Isis 116 | Isis was among the few goddesses worshipped both by the Egyptians and their Mediterranean neighbors in Greece. The mother goddess and a protector of children, she also cared for society’s downtrodden, which may be why gay priests in ancient Egypt worshipped the deity. In one tale documented at Isiopolis, Isis appeared in a dream accompanied by an Egyptian retinue to calm the pregnant Telethusa, who feared she would deliver a girl against her husband’s wishes. Isis told the mother to carry the child, Iphis, who was born a girl but raised as a boy. Later in life, Iphis called on Isis to change his gender to male, an ancient gender affirmation granted by divine means. 117 | 118 | 27. Ra/Rat 119 | While the sun god Ra in most mythological accounts was regarded as the father to the major gods, Sir Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge wrote of clear indications of a double-gender nature to the deity. As early as the fifth dynasty, Budge wrote of Ra’s female counterpart Rat, who was considered the mother of the gods. 120 | 121 | 28. Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep 122 | The clearest evidence that bisexuality was acceptable in ancient Egypt may be the tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep, two men laid to rest in the necropolis of Saqqara. Hieroglyphics indicate that the men were married with children but also show them in intimate embrace. The two men apparently worked as overseers to manicurists in the palace of King Nuiserre. There is some scholarly debate as to whether the men were brothers, but virtually all depictions of the pair show a commitment that looks far more than fraternal. 123 | 124 | 29. Hatshepsut 125 | The first documented transgender figure in history may have been the Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut. Deidra Ramsey McIntyre of Red Ibis Publishing notes that unlike other female Egyptian rulers, Hatshepsut was always depicted in ancient art wearing men’s clothing, and she frequently was drawn with a male body. Her descendent Thutmose III would later try to eradicate nearly all historic reference to her. 126 | 127 | 30. Neferkare and Sasenet 128 | The Egyptian King Neferkare, who many scholars believe rose to become Pharoah Pepi II, would make conspicuous midnight visits to his favorite general, Sasenet, according to tales dating to the era of the Middle Kingdom. According to German scholars Gunter Burkard and Heinz Thissen, some ancient texts state Neferkare would do to the military leader “what his majesty desired,” a phrase they interpret as clear innuendo of sexual congress. 129 | 130 | 31. Hapi 131 | Hapi, the god of the Nile, is depicted in hieroglyphics as an intersex person with a ceremonial false beard and breasts. While generally referred to as male, the god also was also considered a symbol of fertility. According to Richard Parkinson’s Homosexual Desire and Middle Kingdom Literature, the deity was portrayed to suggest both male and female reproductive power, a topic that has incited debate among scholars. 132 | 133 | 32. Wadj-Wer 134 | Another male god widely associated with fertility was Wadj-Wer, a deity depicted at a pyramid site in Abusir. Sometimes referred to as the "pregnant god," Wadj-Wer held the same type of station as river gods in Greek mythology, representing the Mediterranean Sea in some accounts or rivers and lagoons of the northern Nile Delta in others. An association with water seems the greatest distinguishing feature separating iconography of Wadj-Wer from that of Hapi. 135 | 136 | 33. Shai/Renenutet 137 | The Egyptian god of fate Shai sometimes was depicted in male form,and other times presented as the female Shait. Related to both birth in the world and rebirth in the afterlife, Shai was born with each individual, constantly starting life anew but also an immortal god, according to ancient Egyptian belief. Wallis Budge suggests the deity was viewed in parts of Egypt as combining the facets of a male Shai, decreeing what should happen to man, and a female Renenutet, the goddess of good fortune. “Subsequently no distinction was made between these deities and the abstract ideas which they represented,” Budge wrote in The Egyptian Book of the Dead. 138 | The notion of gender as a spectrum may feel to some a modern revelation, but Hindu literature and mythology for centuries has taught of the figures who defied the binary. And while the reproductive connection between man and woman has always been revered in the faith, Hinduism, unlike most Western faiths, historically treats homosexuality as a natural behavior, one documented in folk tale and religious text alike. Behold, this incomplete list of Hindu deities and divine descendants who defied gender and sexual norms back in the day. 139 | 140 | 34. Shiva and Parvati 141 | The supreme god of Shaivism, Shiva has often been held as the ultimate embodiment of masculinity, but as far back as the Kushan era, there have also been depictions of Shiva in the Ardhanarishvara form, an androgynous composite of Shiva and his wife, Parvoti. The form originated when Parvoti, desiring to share Shiva’s experiences, asked for their forms to literally be joined. “What is being said is that if the inner masculine and feminine meet, you are in a perpetual state of ecstasy,” explains Hindu scholar Sadhguru. Most often, the Ardhanarishvara is depicted with the female form of Parvoti on the left and the masculine attributes of Shiva on the right. 142 | 143 | 35. Vishnu/Mohini 144 | A major deity of the religion regarded as protector of the world, Vishnu is clearly depicted in the faith as gender-fluid. This major Hindu deity frequently took on the female avatar of Mohini. Vishnu even procreated with Shiva in the Mohini form, resulting in the birth of Ayyappa, a major figure still worshipped by millions who make pilgrimages to shrines in India. The avatar Mohini frequently gets describes as an enchantress who maddens lovers. 145 | 146 | 36. Krishna 147 | An incarnation of Vishnu, the popular deity Krishna also took the form of Mohini in order to marry Aravan to satisfy one of the hero’s last requests, according to the Mahabharata. After Aravan’s passing, Krishna stayed in the form as the hero’s widow for a significant period of mourning. 148 | 149 | 37. ShikhandiThis warrior in the Kurukshetra war in most tellings of the Mahabharata was female at birth but changed gender later in life. Born Shikhandini, the girl in one version of the story was raised as a male by King Drupada, the girl's father. The king even had her married to the princess of Dasharna. Upon complaints from the new bride, Shikhandini fled into the forest and met a Yaksha and exchanged genders. Now taking the name Shikhandi, he remained a man until his death at the battle of Mahabharat. 150 | 151 | 38. Bahuchara Mata 152 | Bahuchara Mata was traveling with her sisters and threatened by the marauder Bapiya. After she and her sisters self-immolated their own breasts, Bapiya was cursed with impotence until he began to dress and act as a woman. Today, the Hindu goddess is worshipped as the originator and patron of the hijras, trans and intersex Bangladeshis considered in the faith to be of a “third gender.” 153 | 154 | 39. Rama 155 | Another origin story for the hijras comes from the Ramayana, which tells the tale of Rama gathering his subjects in the forest before his 14-year adventure. He tells the men and women to return to their appropriate places in Ayodhya, but upon his return from his epic journey, Rama finds some have not left the place of that speech and instead merged together in an intersex fashion. He grants hijras the ability to confer certain blessings, the beginning of the badhai tradition. 156 | 157 | 40. The Khajuraho Temples 158 | These medieval temples famously include depictions of people in sexual congress, a demonstration of the importance of sexual interaction within the Hindu faith. Included in the carvings are a number of depictions of gay sex, sometimes in orgy situations where several women are involved in intercourse with a single man, but there also are images of men having sex and engaging in fellatio with one another. 159 | 160 | 41. Agni 161 | The god of fire, creativity, and wealth is depicted in the Hindu faith as married both to the goddess and Svaha and with the male moon god Soma. Connor and Sparks relate that Agni importantly received Soma’s semen orally. British scholar Phil Hine says Agni gave a divine blow job to Shiva as well, resulting in the birth of Skanda, the god of war.  162 | 163 | 42. Mitra and Varuna 164 | These sons of Aditi from Vedic literature are depicted frequently as icons for brotherly affection and intimate friendship between men, according to the Gay and Lesbian Vaishnava Association. Ancient texts of the Brahmana in fact depict the two as alternate phases of the moon who join in same-sex relations. On nights of the new moon, Mitra injects his semen into Varuna to start the moon cycle, with the favor returned upon the full moon. 165 | 166 | 43. Budha Graha 167 | In addition to providing a pivotal role in Hindu astrology as one of the planets, specifically Mercury, Budh Graha also represented a huge blow to the paradigm of gender roles millennia before the current vogue. Raised as the child of Sage Brihaspati and Tara, Budha was actually the product of adultery between Tara and the moon god Chandra. Sage Brihaspati, angered at this revelation during Tara’s pregnancy, cursed that the child would be born neither male nor female, and established the tradition that the husband of a child’s mother would be considered its father.  168 | 169 | 44. Ila 170 | The chief progenitor of the lunar dynasty, Ila appears in many stories alternately as female or male. In the Ramayana, a meeting with Shiva and Parvati results in Ila alternating between genders every month. Ila ultimately marries Budha, producing the offspring Pururavas during one of the months when anatomy allowed, thus producing a lunar dynasty. In the Vishnu Parana, it is said Ila’s manhood was ultimately made permanent, upon which he took the name Sudyumma. 171 | 172 | 45. Narada 173 | A Vedic sage and a Job-like figure in Hindu myth, this devotee of Vishnu once boasted he was above being a victim of maya. Vishnu encouraged Narada then to take a dip in a pool, which erased the sage’s memories and turned him into a woman. In that state, Narada would marry a king and produce several sons and grandsons doomed to die in war. While Narada was in mourning, the sage’s gender was restored to male, and he had a greater understanding of the power of maya. 174 | 175 | 46. Nammallvar 176 | One of the 12 alwar saints of Tamil Nadu, this mystic poet often expressed as female and wrote as many as 1,000 devotional songs in the persona of a woman pining for her lover, Lord Vishnu. Indeed, at an annual festival, an icon of Nammallvar in drag is brought into a sanctum of Vishnu to unite to the literary lover with her lord. 177 | 178 | 47. Radha 179 | The Radha Krishna are collectively known within the Hindu faith as the aspects of the male and female facets of God. Radha is regarded as the supreme goddess in control of the god Krishna, and members of a Vaishnava sahajiya sect of the faith that identified with Radha dressed and lived as women as a way of perfecting their love of Krishna, according to Vedan literature. In fact, a 15th-century leader, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, claimed to be a manifestation of Krishna in union with Radha. As in, “I am Chait”? OK, maybe that’s a stretch. 180 | 181 | 48. The Kama Sutra 182 | Want proof to show your homophobic uncle that same-sex unions have been recognized by faith leaders for thousands of years? Tell him to grab that copy of the Kama Sutra he keeps in a dresser drawer and read Chapter 9, which in addition to offering instruction on fellatio makes clear that this skill can also be used acceptably in homosexual interactions. It’s even been cited by the Human Rights Campaign. Of note, the Kama Sutra existed as a religious text celebrating the union of individuals in sexual interaction. 183 | 184 | 49. Arjuna 185 | A protagonist in the Mahabharata, Arjuna spent a year in exile, cursed by a rejected Urvashi to live as a eunuch. But on the request of King Indra, that sentence was reduced and Arjuna lived just a year as a woman, taking the name Brihannala and teaching princesses to dance. 186 | 187 | 50. Samba 188 | The son of Krishna today is considered the patron of eunuchs and transgender people, but his history sounds like modern myths about Target bathrooms. Connor and Sparks write that Samba, or Shamba, would dress in women’s clothes to more easily sneak into the company of women in order to seduce them. 189 | 190 | 51. The mothers of BhagirathaThe Hindu king Bhagiratha was credited with bringing the Ganges River to Earth, but his arrival on Earth originated in the sapphic and the divine. Historians Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kiswai note the king’s name indicates he was born of two vulvas, and discovered a story of Maharaja Dilipa, the king of the Sun Dynasty, dying with no heir. Shiva declared the king’s two widows could make love to one another to produce a true offspring, and Bhagiratha was conceived. 191 | 192 | 52. Bhagavati-devi 193 | Bhagavati-devi is considered today to be the goddess of cross-dressing, and more than 5,000 male worshippers dress as women each year for the ritual Chamayavilakku festival in Kollam. Temple leaders say the tradition has been in place for hundreds of years. 194 | Want more news, top stories, and videos? 195 | Check out the all NEW Advocate Channel! 196 | Your 24/7 streaming source for equality news and lifestyle trends. 197 | Click this link right now:https://advocatechannel.com 198 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /famous_trans_people.csv: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | Name;Birth and death years;Nationality;Pronouns;Notable as;Ref. 2 | Marja-Sisko Aalto;1954;Finnish;she/her;Evangelic-Lutheran priest;[1] 3 | Alexander James Adams;1962;American;he/him;musician, singer and songwriter;[2] 4 | Calpernia Addams;1971;American;she/her;actress, author, and entrepreneur;[3] 5 | Aderet;1976;Israeli;she/her;pop singer;[4] 6 | Tamara Adrián;1954;Venezuelan;she/her;politician;[5][6] 7 | Leelah Alcorn;1997–2014;American;she/her;Teenage suicide victim due to rejection by parents;[7] 8 | Ian Alexander;2001;American;they/them, he/him;actor;[8] 9 | Harry Allen;1882–1922;American;he/him;american pioneer period Pacific Northwest transgender man known for flouting social norms;[9] 10 | Rebecca Allison;1946;American;she/her;cardiologist, president-elect of Gay and Lesbian Medical Association;[10] 11 | Kye Allums;1989;American;he/him;basketball player;[11] 12 | Nadia Almada;1977;Portuguese;she/her;winner of Big Brother UK series 5;[12] 13 | Jessica Alves;1983;Brazilian-British;she/her;television personality noted for having undergone dozens of plastic surgeries;[13] 14 | Taylor Alxndr;1993;American;they/them;music artist, drag queen, activist;[14] 15 | Barbra Amesbury;1948;Canadian;she/her;singer-songwriter;[15] 16 | Charlie Jane Anders;1969;American;she/her;author;[16] 17 | Adèle Anderson;1952;British;she/her;actor and member of the group Fascinating Aïda;[17] 18 | Lucy Hicks Anderson;1886–1954;American;she/her;one of the earliest trans women documented;[18] 19 | Luke Anderson;1981;South African-born;he/him;winner of Big Brother UK series 13;[19] 20 | Jacob Anderson-Minshall;1967;American;he/him;author;[20] 21 | Erica Andrews (Erica Salazar);1969–2013;Mexican-born American;she/her;international and national beauty pageant title winner, drag performer, actor and entrepreneur;[21] 22 | Buck Angel;1962;American;he/him;adult performer and producer, activist, educator, and motivational speaker;[22] 23 | Anohni;1971;British-born;she/her;lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons;[23] 24 | Carla Antonelli;1960;Spanish;she/her;actress, activist, and legislator;[24] 25 | Ryka Aoki;;American;she/her;author, poet;[25][26] 26 | Nikki Araguz;1975–2019;American;she/her;marriage equality activist and public speaker;[27] 27 | Victoria Arellano;1984–2007;Mexican;she/her;Mexican immigrant to the US who died in an immigration detention facility;[28] 28 | Alexis Arquette;1969–2016;American;she/her;actress and musician;[29] 29 | Nina Arsenault;1974;Canadian;she/her;writer;[30] 30 | April Ashley;1935–2021;English;she/her;model;[31][32] 31 | Laith Ashley;1989;American;he/him;model, actor, and singer.;missing 32 | Estelle Asmodelle;1964;Australian;she/her;actress, author, and dancer;[33] 33 | Robina Asti;1921–2021;;she/her;US Navy pilot in World War II, record holder for world's oldest flight instructor;[34] 34 | Abigail Austen;1965;British;she/her;soldier;[35] 35 | Backxwash;1991;Zambian-Canadian;she/her;rapper;[36] 36 | Mianne Bagger;1966;Danish;she/her;golfer;[37] 37 | Jenny Bailey;1962;English;she/her;politician, former Mayor of Cambridge;[38] 38 | Grace Banu;1988;Indian;she/her;Dalit and trans activist, first transgender engineer in Tamil Nadu;[39] 39 | Victor Barker;1895–1960;British;he/him;writer and entertainer;[40] 40 | Ben Barres;1954–2017;American;he/him;neurobiologist;[41] 41 | James Barry;1789/99–1865;Irish;;military surgeon and Inspector General in charge of military hospitals;[42] 42 | Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad;1949;Norwegian;they/them;physician, family therapist, sexologist;[43][44] 43 | Kristin Beck;1966;American;she/her;US Navy SEAL;[45] 44 | Saga Becker;1988;Swedish;she/her;actress;[46] 45 | Munroe Bergdorf;1987;British;she/her;model and activist;[47] 46 | S. Bear Bergman;1974;American;he/him;writer and performance artist;[48] 47 | Danielle Bunten Berry;1949–1998;American;she/her;software developer;[49] 48 | Michelle Suárez Bértora;1983–2022;Uruguayan;she/her;first openly transgender female lawyer and Substitute Senator (2014–2017) in Uruguay;[50] 49 | Hannah Elyse Simpson;1984;American;she/her;transgender advocate and writer;[51][52][53] 50 | Sam Bettens;1972;Belgian;he/him;musician and the lead singer of the Belgian band K's Choice;[54] 51 | Georgina Beyer;1957;New Zealand;she/her;politician;[55] 52 | Alexandra Billings;1962;American;she/her;actress, singer, and educator;[56] 53 | Jackson Bird;1990;American;he/him;author, vlogger, and activist;[57] 54 | Fran Blanche;;American;she/her;electronic engineer, musician;[58] 55 | Maddie Blaustein;1960–2008;American;she/her;voice actress;[59] 56 | Leyna Bloom;1990;American;she/her;fashion model, dancer, and activist;[60] 57 | Alejandra Bogue;1965;Mexican;she/her;film, television and stage actress;[61] 58 | Justin Vivian Bond;1963;American;they/them;singer-songwriter, performance artist;[62] 59 | Chaz Bono;1969;American;he/him;actor, singer and activist;[63] 60 | Kate Bornstein;1948;American;they/them, she/her;author, performance artist, and gender theorist;[64] 61 | Jennifer Finney Boylan;1958;American;she/her;author and activist, previously an award-winning professor of English at Colby College;[65] 62 | Cait Brennan;1969;American;she/her;author, filmmaker and performer;[66] 63 | Namoli Brennet;1970;American;she/her;folk singer;[67] 64 | Aleshia Brevard;1937–2017;American;she/her;"film, TV, and theatre actress, model, author, and professor; one of the earliest transitioners in the United States";[68] 65 | Z Brewer;1973;American;they/them;Author;[69][70] 66 | Poppy Z. Brite (a.k.a. Billy Martin);1967;American;he/him;Gothic horror author;[71] 67 | "Willmer ""Little Ax"" Broadnax";1916–1994;American;he/him;Gospel tenor;[72] 68 | Blake Brockington;1996–2015;American;he/him;18-year-old American activist, student, and suicide victim;[73] 69 | Shauna Brooks;1990;American;she/her;Model, comedian, and actress;[74] 70 | Sarah Brown;1972/74;British;she/her;Politician and activist;[75] 71 | Harrison Browne;1993;Canadian;he/him;Hockey player for Buffalo Beauts;[76] 72 | Sara Davis Buechner;1964;American;she/her;Musician; 73 | Cidny Bullens;1955;American;he/him;Musician;[77] 74 | Balian Buschbaum;1980;German;he/him;Pole vaulter and two-time European Championship bronze medalist;[78] 75 | Alec Butler;1959;Canadian;they/them, he/him;Writer;[79] 76 | Bülent Ersoy;1952;Turkish;she/her;singer and actress;[80] 77 | Mya Byrne;1978;American;she/her;folk/rock musician;[81] 78 | Mauro Cabral Grinspan;1971;Argentinian;he/him;Intersex and trans advocate, academic, and co-director of GATE;[82] 79 | Meryn Cadell;;Canadian;he/him;Writer, performance artist, and assistant professor of song lyrics and libretto writing;[83] 80 | Patrick Califia;1954;American;he/him;writer;[84] 81 | Loren Cameron;1959;American;he/him;photographer/visual artist;[85] 82 | Mina Caputo;1973;American;she/her;singer for Life of Agony;[86] 83 | Micha Cárdenas;1977;American;she/her;artist/theorist and lecturer of Visual Arts and Critical Gender Studies at UCSD;[87] 84 | Wendy Carlos;1939;American;she/her;composer and electronic musician;[88] 85 | Carmen Carrera;1985;American;she/her;reality television personality, drag performer, actress and model;[89] 86 | Lynda Cash;1949/1950;British;she/her;British Royal Navy officer;[90] 87 | Albert Cashier;1843–1915;Irish;;"Irish-born Union Army soldier;";[91] 88 | Ryan Cassata;1993;American;he/him;musician, public speaker, writer, filmmaker, and actor;[92] 89 | Candis Cayne;1971;American;she/her;actress and performance artist;[93] 90 | Aimee Challenor;1997;British;she/her;politician and transgender activist;[94] 91 | Parinya Charoenphol;1981;Thai;she/her;Thai boxer, model, and actress;[95][96] 92 | Elie Che;1998–2020;British;she/her;Model, performer, activist;[97][98] 93 | Chen Lili;1980;Chinese;she/her;Model;[99] 94 | Quinn Christopherson;1992;American;he/him;singer-songwriter;[100] 95 | Sarah Ashton-Cirillo;1977;American;she/her[101];journalist, soldier;[102] 96 | Eli Clare;1963;American;he/him;writer, activist, educator, and speaker;[103] 97 | Alex Clare-Young;;British;they/them;priest in the United Reformed Church;[104] 98 | Layshia Clarendon;1991;American;they/them;basketball player.;[105] 99 | Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark;1938;American;she/her;served in both the US Navy and Army, trans and AIDS activist, and nun;[106] 100 | Angela Clayton;1959–2014;British;she/her;physicist and activist;[107] 101 | Jamie Clayton;1978;American;she/her;model and actress;[108] 102 | Roberta Close;1964;Brazilian;she/her;model;[109] 103 | Thomas Baty;1869–1954;English;he/him;lawyer, writer and editor of the feminist gender studies journal Urania;[110] 104 | Coccinelle;1931–2006;French;she/her;singer and entertainer;[111] 105 | Michael D. Cohen;1975;Canadian-American;he/him;actor; 106 | Raewyn Connell;1944;Australian;she/her;sociologist and academic;[112] 107 | Joanne Conte;1933–2013;American;she/her;politician, the first openly transgender person to be elected to a city council in the U.S, radio show host, and investigative reporter;[113] 108 | Lynn Conway;1938;American;she/her;computer scientist, electrical engineer, activist;[114][115] 109 | T Cooper;;American;he/him;novelist, nonfiction writer, television writer, and journalist;[116] 110 | Ruby Corado;1970;American;she/her;LGBT rights activist;[117] 111 | Caroline Cossey (a.k.a. Tula);1954;English;she/her;model, actress, and author;[118] 112 | Jayne County;1947;American;she/her;musician;[119] 113 | Roberta Cowell;1918–2011;British;she/her;World War II fighter pilot, and the first British trans woman to undergo gender reassignment;[120] 114 | Laverne Cox;1972;American;she/her;actress, producer, and advocate;[121] 115 | Brittany CoxXx;1978–2016;American;she/her;adult actress;[122][123] 116 | Kate Craig-Wood;1977–2020;British;she/her;IT entrepreneur;[124][125] 117 | Victoria Cruz;1945/6;American;she/her;activist and retired domestic violence counsellor;[126] 118 | Phillipe Cunningham;1987;American;he/him;politician;[127] 119 | Jackie Curtis;1947–1985;American;she/her;actress and writer;[128] 120 | Christine Daniels;1957–2009;American;he/him;writer;[129] 121 | Candy Darling;1944–1974;American;she/her;performer;[130] 122 | Tista Das;1976;Indian;she/her;actress;[131] 123 | Juno Dawson;1981;British;she/her;young adult fiction author;[132] 124 | Chevalier d'Éon;1728–1810;French;;diplomat;[133] 125 | Nikkie de Jager;1994;Dutch;she/her;makeup artist and YouTuber;[134] 126 | Florencia de la V;1976;Argentine;she/her;actress;[135] 127 | Vicky de Lambray;1950–1986;English;she/her;sex worker, con artist;[136] 128 | Jowelle de Souza;1974;Trinidadian;she/her;hairdresser, politician, LGBT and animal welfare activist;[137][138][139][140] 129 | Petra De Sutter;1963;Belgian;she/her;gynecologist and politician, current deputy prime minister of Belgium;[141] 130 | Baby Dee;1953;American;she/her;multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and performance artist;[142] 131 | Ashley Diamond;1978;;she/her;prison and LGBTQ rights activist;[143] 132 | Michael Dillon;1915–1962;British;he/him;physician;[144] 133 | Julie Doe;1952/1966-1988;American;she/her;unidentified murder victim discovered in Clermont, Florida;[145] 134 | Sean Dorsey;1972/3;Canadian;he/him;modern choreographer, dancer, writer and trans rights activist;[146] 135 | Angela Lynn Douglas;1943–2007;American;she/her;activist;[147] 136 | Michelle Dumaresq;1970;Canadian;she/her;bicycle racer;[148] 137 | Elagabalus;203–222;;;Roman emperor characterized as transgender;[149][150][151] 138 | Lili Elbe;1882–1931;Danish;she/her;;[152] 139 | Dorian Electra;1992;American;they/them;singer, songwriter and performance artist;[153][154] 140 | Felicia Elizondo;1946–2021;American;she/her;LGBT activist;[155] 141 | Kataluna Enriquez;1995;American;she/her;first trans woman to win Miss Nevada USA, to become first trans Miss USA contestant;[156] 142 | Rüzgar Erkoçlar;1986;Turkish;he/him;actor and model;[157] 143 | Eli Erlick;1995;American;she/her;trans activist;[158] 144 | Bülent Ersoy;1952;Turkish;she/her;singer and actress;[159] 145 | Erika Ervin (a.k.a. Amazon Eve);1979;American;she/her;model, fitness trainer, and actress;[160] 146 | Eugene Falleni;1875 – 1938;Italian-Australian;he/him;murderer;[161][162][163][164] 147 | Enriqueta Favez;1791 – 1856;Swiss;she/her;physician and surgeon who practiced medicine in the Napoleonic Wars and in Cuba;[165] 148 | Florian-Ayala Fauna;;American;she/her;artist, musician, poet, and music producer;[166][167] 149 | Leslie Feinberg;1949–2014;American;she/her;author and activist;[168] 150 | Maxine Feldman;1945–2007;American;;singer-songwriter and comedian;[169] 151 | Jamie Fenton;1964;American;she/her;software engineer and video game writer;[170] 152 | Bibiana Fernández;1954;Spanish;she/her;actress and model;[171] 153 | Yasmin Finney;2003/2004;English;she/her;actress;[172] 154 | Fox Fisher;1980;British;they/them;artist, filmmaker, author and trans campaigner;[173][174] 155 | Owl Fisher;1991;Icelandic;they/them;journalist, filmmaker, author, and trans activist;[175] 156 | Sir Ewan Forbes, 11th Baronet;1912–1991;Scottish;he/him;doctor, farmer, 11th Baronet of Craigievar;[176] 157 | Tyler Ford;1990;American;they/them;writer, public speaker, and activist;[177] 158 | Fallon Fox;1975;American;she/her;MMA fighter; 159 | Sage Fox;1972;;she/her;US Army Captain;[178] 160 | Lydia Foy;1947;Irish;she/her;dentist and transgender rights activist;[179] 161 | Crystal Frasier;1980;American;she/her;artist and game designer;.[180] 162 | Ina Fried;1974;American;she/her;author and senior writer for CNET Networks;[181] 163 | Phyllis Frye;1946;American;she/her;first openly transgender judge appointed in Texas;[182] 164 | Ketty Gabriele;1982;;she/her;reputed Italian mafia figure;[183] 165 | Dorce Gamalama;1963–2022;Indonesian;she/her;entertainer;[184][185] 166 | Tessa Ganserer;1977;German;she/her;politician;[186] 167 | Garcia;;American;they/them;actor;[187] 168 | Teddy Geiger;1988;American;she/her;musician;[188] 169 | Nats Getty;1992;American;he/him;model, socialite and activist;[189] 170 | Maebe A. Girl;1986;American;she/her, they/them;drag queen and politician;[190] 171 | General Tito Aníbal da Paixão Gomes;1933–2007;Portuguese;she/her;scam artist;[191] 172 | Alexander John Goodrum;1960–2002;American;he/him;civil rights activist, writer and educator;[192] 173 | Gigi Gorgeous;1992;Canadian-American;she/her;model and YouTube personality;[193][194] 174 | Laura Jane Grace;1980;American;she/her;lead singer and guitarist for punk rock band Against Me!;[195] 175 | Hannah Graf;;British;she/her;highest-ranked transgender person in the British Army and transgender rights activist;[196] 176 | Julia Grant;1954–2019;British;she/her;activist and first person to have their gender reassignment followed on UK television in A Change of Sex;[197] 177 | Jamison Green;1948;American;he/him;writer and educator;[198] 178 | Miss Major Griffin-Gracy;1940;American;she/her;African-American activist and community leader for transgender rights;[199] 179 | Greyson Gritt;;Canadian;they/them;musician, educator, and activist of Ojibwe-Métis descent.;[200] 180 | Anna Grodzka;1954;Polish;she/her;politician, first transgender MP in European history;[201] 181 | Gottmik;1996;American;he/him, she/her (in drag);drag performer;[202][203] 182 | Gia Gunn;1990;American;she/her;drag queen;[204] 183 | Jamie Lee Hamilton;1955–2019;Rocky Boy Canadian;she/her;activist and politician;[205] 184 | Choi Han-bit;1987;South Korean;she/her;model, actress, and singer;[206] 185 | Harisu;1975;South Korean;she/her;model, singer, and actress. Republic of Korea's first transgender entertainer, and in 2002 became the second person in Korea to legally change their gender;[207] 186 | Deborah Hartin;1933–2005;American;she/her;lecturer and activist;[208] 187 | Lauren Harries;1978;English;she/her;child prodigy;[209] 188 | Alan L. Hart;1890–1962;American;he/him;physician, researcher, writer;[210] 189 | Ian Harvie;1968;American;he/him;comedian and actor;[211] 190 | Debbie Hayton;1968;British;she/her;"teacher, journalist; opposition to gender self-ID";[212] 191 | Elle Hearns;1986/7;American;she/her;"organizer, speaker, writer, and activist; co-founder and strategic partner and organising coordinator of the Black Lives Matter Global Network; founder and executive director of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute";[213] 192 | Rebecca Heineman;1963;American;she/her;computer video game programmer;[214] 193 | Michelle Hendley;1991;American;she/her;actress;[215] 194 | Jess Herbst;1958;American;she/her;politician;[216] 195 | Adela Hernández;1962;Cuban;she/her;first transgender person elected to political office in Cuba;[217] 196 | Anderson Bigode Herzer;1962–1982;Brazilian;he/him;counter culture writer and poet;[218] 197 | Rita Hester;1963–1998;American;she/her;murder victim and inspiration for the first Transgender Day of Remembrance;[219] 198 | Katie Rain Hill;c. 1994;American;she/her;author and activist;[220] 199 | Stephanie Hirst;1975;English;she/her;radio and television presenter/broadcaster;[221] 200 | Stacey Hollywood;1968;American;she/her;actor, model, nightclub promoter, performance artist;[222][223] 201 | Mary Ann Horton;1955;;she/her;Usenet and Internet pioneer, computer scientist and transgender educator and activist;[224] 202 | Laurel Hubbard;1978;New Zealand;she/her;weightlifter;[225][226] 203 | Tyra Hunter;1970–1995;American;she/her;hairdresser;[227] 204 | Grace Hyland;;Australian;she/her;TikToker and activist;[228] 205 | Candice Iloh;;Nigerian-American;they/them;writer, poet, and dancer;[229] 206 | Dana International;1972;Israeli;she/her;singer;[230] 207 | Veronica Ivy (formerly Rachel McKinnon);1982;Canadian;she/her;philosophy professor, competitive cyclist, and transgender rights activist.;[231] 208 | Kim Coco Iwamoto;1968;Hawaiian;she/her;politician, activist, editorialist, policymaker, advocate, and philanthropist;[232] 209 | Eddie Izzard;1962;English;she/her;comedian, actor, writer and political activist;[233][234] 210 | Dominique Jackson;1975;Tobagonian-American;she/her;author, model, actress, activist, reality television personality;[235] 211 | Andrea James;1967;American;she/her;entrepreneur, filmmaker, and activist;[236] 212 | Jennell Jaquays;1956;American;she/her;game designer and artist;[237] 213 | Sir Lady Java;1943;American;she/her;stage performer, actress, and activist;[238] 214 | Bailey Jay;1988;American;she/her;adult actress;[239] 215 | Andrea Jenkins;1961;American;she/her;politician;[240] 216 | Caitlyn Jenner;1949;American;she/her;Olympics athlete and television personality;[241] 217 | Jazz Jennings;2000;American;she/her;activist and TV/YouTube personality;[242] 218 | Lauren Jeska;1974;British;she/her;fell-runner convicted of the attempted murder of Ralph Knibbs;[243] 219 | Natasha Jiménez;;Costa Rican;she/her;trans and intersex human rights activist, and author;[244] 220 | Jin Xing;1967;Chinese;she/her;dancer;[245] 221 | George M. Johnson;;American;they/them;author and activist;[246] 222 | Jeffrey Catherine Jones;1944–2011;American;she/her;painter and comic book artist;[247] 223 | Christine Jorgensen;1926–1989;American;she/her;trans activist;[248] 224 | Michelle Josef;1954;Canadian;she/her;musician;[249] 225 | Christina Kahrl;1967;American;she/her;sportswriter, editor, co-founder of Baseball Prospectus, and civil rights activist;[250] 226 | Aya Kamikawa;1968;Japanese;she/her;politician;[251] 227 | Roz Kaveney;1949;British;she/her;writer;[252] 228 | Julia Kaye;1988;American;she/her;illustrator;[253] 229 | Rocco Kayiatos (a.k.a Katastrophe);1979;American;he/him;rapper, the first openly transgender singer in the hip-hop genre;[254] 230 | Aidan Key;1964;American;he/him;K–12 educator, community organizer, author of Trans Bodies, Trans Selves;[255] 231 | Isis King;1985;American;she/her;model, fashion designer;[256] 232 | Trevor Kirczenow;1985;Canadian;he/him;author, public speaker, and healthcare researcher;[257] 233 | Victoria Kolakowski;1961;American;she/her;judge;[258] 234 | Andreas Krieger;1966;German;he/him;athlete;[259] 235 | Janae Kroc;1972;American;she/her;professional powerlifter and competitive bodybuilder;[260] 236 | Sakris Kupila;1996;Finnish;he/him;medical student and international campaigner for trans rights;[261] 237 | Mara La Torre;1991;Filipino;she/her;trans activist;[262] 238 | Sophie Labelle;1987/8;Canadian;she/her;author, cartoonist, and public speaker;[263] 239 | Joy Ladin;1961;American;she/her;author, poet, first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox Jewish institution, and holds the David and Ruth Gottesman Chair in English at the Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University;[264] 240 | Lady;;Korean;;transgender pop group active between 2005 and 2007;[265] 241 | Lee Lai;1993;Australian;she/her;cartoonist;[266] 242 | Vicci Laine;1960;American;she/her;drag performer, celebrity impersonator, singer, and HIV/AIDS activist;[267] 243 | Bambi Lake;1950–2020;American;she/her;performer and musician;[268] 244 | Loiza Lamers;1995;Dutch;she/her;model and first transgender winner in the Top Model franchise;[269] 245 | Greer Lankton;1958–1996;American;she/her;artist;[270] 246 | Stacie Laughton;1984;American;she/her;politician;[271] 247 | Daniel M. Lavery;1986;American;he/him;author;[272] 248 | Ed Le Brocq (formerly Eddie Ayres);1967;British Australian;he/him;radio presenter, musician, teacher;[273] 249 | Lee Si-yeon;1979;South Korean;she/her;actress;[274] 250 | Yasmin Lee;1983;Thai-born;she/her;actress and adult entertainer;[275] 251 | Paris Lees;1986;British;she/her;journalist, radio presenter and transgender rights activist;[276] 252 | Jordana LeSesne;;American;she/her;Musician and producer;[277][278] 253 | Rodrigo Lehtinen;1986;American;he/him;transgender LGBT rights advocate;[279] 254 | Amanda Lepore;1967;American;she/her;transgender icon and model, celebutante, singer, and performance artist;[280] 255 | Rachel Levine;1957;American;she/her;physician, United States Assistant Secretary for Health, former Pennsylvania Physician General (2015-2017), former Pennsylvania Secretary of Health (2017–2021);[281][282] 256 | Justine Lindsay;1992;American;she/her;first openly transgender NFL Cheerleader;[283] 257 | Alicia Liu;1986;Taiwanese;she/her;model and television personality;[284] 258 | Juliàn Delgado Lopera;1988;Colombian;they/them;writer and performer;[285] 259 | Sassafras Lowrey;1983/1984;American;ze/hir;author and dog trainer;[286] 260 | Lucinta Luna;1989;Indonesian;she/her;model, actress and singer;missing 261 | Vladimir Luxuria;1965;Italian;she/her;politician and actress;[287] 262 | Cam Lyman;1932 – c. 1987;American;he/him;dog breeder;[288] 263 | Finn Mackay;1977/1978;British;they/them;feminist campaigner;[289] 264 | Lily Madigan;1998;British;she/her;activist, and first openly transgender woman to become a Women's Officer within the Labour Party;[290] 265 | Nicole Maines;1997;American;she/her;actress and transgender rights activist, plays the first television transgender superhero on CW's Supergirl;[291] 266 | Kellie Maloney;1953;British;she/her;boxing promoter, television personality;[292] 267 | Chelsea Manning;1987;American;she/her;soldier, and convicted whistleblower under the Espionage Act;[293] 268 | Patricio Manuel;1985;American;he/him;first transgender professional boxer in the United States;[294][295] 269 | Mimi Marks;1967;American;she/her;entertainer;[296] 270 | Mario Martino;;American;he/him;nurse, early trans male autobiographer;[297] 271 | Shabnam Mausi;;Indian;she/her;politician;[298] 272 | Thomas Page McBee;1981;American;he/him;author of Amateur and Man Alive; 273 | Lily McBeth;1934–2014;American;she/her;educator;[299] 274 | Sarah McBride;1990;American;she/her;LGBT advocate;[300] 275 | Deirdre McCloskey;1942;American;she/her;economist;[301] 276 | CeCe McDonald;1989;American,;she/her;imprisoned 2012–2014 after fatally stabbing an attacker;[302] 277 | Cate McGregor;1956;Australian;she/her;senior military officer;[303] 278 | Miles McKenna;1995;American;he/him;Vlogger, actor, LGBTQIA+ advocate;[304] 279 | Tiq Milan;;American;he/him;writer, public speaker, activist, and strategic media consultant;[305] 280 | Ezra Miller;1992;American;they/them, it, zir;actor;[306] 281 | sj Miller;1970;American;;academic, author, public speaker, and activist;[307] 282 | Riley Carter Millington;1993/1994;British;he/him;actor;[308] 283 | Cris Miró;1965–1999;Argentine;she/her;entertainer that became the first travesti in Argentina to be massively accepted by the public.;[309] 284 | Janet Mock;1983;American;she/her;writer, transgender rights activist, author, and former staff editor of People magazine's website;[310] 285 | Joyita Mondal;;Indian;she/her;first openly transgender female judge in India (2017);[311][312] 286 | Micheline Montreuil;1952;Canadian;she/her;Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician;[313] 287 | Patricia Morgan;1939–1986?;American;she/her;American businesswoman and former sex worker;[314] 288 | Angela Morley;1924–2009;English;she/her;composer and conductor;[315] 289 | Indya Moore;1995;American;they/them;actor and model;[316] 290 | Rusty Mae Moore;1941–2022;American;she/her;activist and educator;[317] 291 | Jan Morris;1926–2020;British;she/her;historian and writer;[318] 292 | Nizah Morris;1955–2002;American;she/her;entertainer;[319] 293 | Chris Mosier;1980;American;he/him;athlete;[320] 294 | Aisha Mughal;;Pakistani;she/her;Transgender rights expert, Ministry of Human Rights;[321] 295 | Anwen Muston;;British;she/her;Labour Party politician, first openly transgender woman to be elected to represent Labour;[322] 296 | Ataru Nakamura;1985;Japanese;she/her;singer;[323] 297 | Shay Neary;1987/8;American;she/her;fashion model, first openly trans plus-size model to land a major campaign;[324] 298 | Hari Nef;1992;American;she/her;actress, model, and writer;[325] 299 | Ariel Nicholson;2001;American;she/her;model and activist;[326] 300 | Nisha Ayub;1979;Malaysian;she/her;"transgender rights activist; first trans woman to be awarded with the prestigious International Women of Courage Award in 2016";[327] 301 | Remy Noe;1974;English;;landscape artist;[328] 302 | Tracey Norman;1951;;she/her;first African-American transgender woman model to appear on a box of Clairol hair-coloring in the 1970s;[329] 303 | Bell Nuntita;1983;;she/her;participant on the show Thailand's Got Talent, Thai transgender actress, singer, entertainer, and radio DJ;[330] 304 | Terri O'Connell;1964;American;she/her;automobile racer;[331] 305 | Anne Ogborn;1959;American;she/her;transgender activist;[332] 306 | Pepe Julian Onziema;1981;Ugandan;he/him;LGBT rights activist;[333] 307 | Mina Orfanou;1982;Greek;she/her;actress;[334] 308 | Dylan Orr;1979;American;he/him;political appointee;[335] 309 | Elliot Page;1987;Canadian;he/him, they/them;actor and producer;[336][337] 310 | Caroline Paige;1961;;she/her;Royal Air Force officer;[338] 311 | Dee Palmer;1937;English;she/her;musician from Jethro Tull;[339] 312 | Pauline Park;1960;American;she/her;transgender activist;[340] 313 | Charley Parkhurst;1812–1879;American;he/him;stagecoach driver;[341] 314 | Esdras Parra;1937–2004;Venezuelan;she/her;writer;[342] 315 | Ophelia Pastrana;1982;Colombian;she/her;physicist, LGBT activist, entrepreneur and social media personality;[343] 316 | Nicole Louise Pearce;1964;Australian;she/her;child murderer;[344] 317 | Andreja Pejić;1991;Australian;she/her;model of Bosnian Croat and Bosnian Serb ethnicity;[345] 318 | Peppermint;1980;American;she/her;drag queen, singer and actress;[346] 319 | Kim Petras;1992;German;she/her;pop singer;[347] 320 | Leslie Elaine Perez;1938–2005;American;she/her;convicted murderer and politician;[348] 321 | Yasmine Petty;;American;she/her;fashion model and actress;[349] 322 | Xan Phillips;;American;they/them;poet and visual artist;[350] 323 | John Pilley;1951/1952;;he/him;first prisoner in England and Wales to be granted sex reassignment surgery;[351] 324 | Elliott Platt;2004;Canadian;he/him;musician;[352] 325 | Misty Plowright;1982/3;;she/her;first transgender woman to be a nominee to the US House of Representatives from a major political party;[353] 326 | Rachel Pollack;1945;American;she/her;author;[354] 327 | Ángela Ponce;1991;Spanish;she/her;model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Spain 2018;[355] 328 | Midge Potts;1969;American;she/her;political activist;[356] 329 | Ljuba Prenner;1906–1977;Slovenian;he/him;attorney and author of the first Slovene crime novel.;[357][358] 330 | Fay Presto;1948;British;she/her;magician[359]; 331 | Virginia Prince;1912–2009;American;she/her;pharmacologist, transgender activist and author;[360] 332 | Jennifer Pritzker;1950;American;she/her;investor and philanthropist;[361] 333 | Nat Puff (a.k.a. Left at London);1996;American;she/her;comedian and singer-songwriter;[362] 334 | Teddy Quinlivan;1994;American;she/her;model;[363] 335 | Lena Raine;1984;American;she/her;composer and producer;[364] 336 | Jamie Raines (Jammidodger);1994;British;he/him;Psychologist, Youtuber, trans activist;[365] 337 | Jordan Raskopoulos;1982;Australian;she/her;comedian and singer in The Axis of Awesome;[366] 338 | Stu Rasmussen;1948–2021;American;he/him, she/her;first openly transgender mayor in the United States;[367][368] 339 | Renée Richards;1934;American;she/her;athlete and physician;[369] 340 | Rinu;1998;Japanese;he/him;Singer, member of Strawberry Prince;[370] 341 | Miriam Rivera;1981–2019;Mexican;she/her;reality TV star and adult entertainer;[371] 342 | Sylvia Rivera;1951–2002;American;she/her;transgender activist;[372][373] 343 | Monica Roberts;1962–2020;American;she/her;writer, blogger, and trans rights advocate;[374] 344 | Eva Robin's;1958;Italian;she/her;actress and activist;[375] 345 | Allyson Robinson;;;she/her;served as Army officer, American LGBT rights activist;[376] 346 | Geena Rocero;1983/4;Filipina-born American;she/her;model and activist;[377] 347 | Mj Rodriguez;1991;American;she/her;actress and singer.;[378] 348 | Diane Marie Rodriguez Zambrano;1982;Ecuadorian;she/her;activist;[379] 349 | Danica Roem;1984;American;she/her;politician;[380] 350 | Terri Rogers;1937–1999;English;she/her;ventriloquist;[381] 351 | Geraldine Roman;1967;Philippines;she/her;congresswoman;[382] 352 | Rebecca Root;1969;British;she/her;actress;[383] 353 | Deena Kaye Rose;1943;American;she/her;singer-songwriter;[384] 354 | Nyla Rose;1982;Native American and African American;she/her;actress and professional wrestler;[385] 355 | Angelica Ross;1980;American;she/her;businesswoman, actress, and activist;[386] 356 | Martine Rothblatt;1954;American;she/her;lawyer and author;[387] 357 | Joan Roughgarden;1946;American;she/her;biologist;[388] 358 | Henry Rubin;1966;American;he/him;sociologist;[389] 359 | Eliana Rubashkyn;1988;New Zealand/Colombian;they/she;pharmacist, former refugee, first transgender woman recognised as woman under International Law and the UNHCR;[390] 360 | Carmen Rupe;1936–2011;New Zealand/Australian;she/her;entertainer and activist;[391] 361 | John/Eleanor Rykener;1394;English;;14th century sex worker;[392][a] 362 | Trish Salah;;Canadian;she/her;poet, labour activist and educator;[393] 363 | Bamby Salcedo;;American;she/her;LGBT rights activist;[394] 364 | Ali Saleem;1979;Pakistani;he/him;television personality;[395] 365 | Ryan Sallans;1979;American;he/him;LGBT activist and public speaker;[396] 366 | Loui Sand;1992;Swedish;he/him;former professional handball player of Sri-Lankan descent.;[397] 367 | Fulvia Celica Siguas Sandoval;;Peruvian;she/her;;[398] 368 | Stef Sanjati;1995;Canadian;she/her;YouTuber;[399] 369 | Harmony Santana;;American;she/her;film actress;[400] 370 | Hunter Schafer;1999;American;she/her;fashion model, actress, and LGBT rights activist;[401] 371 | Jeanette Schmid;1924–2005;Czech;she/her;whistler;[402] 372 | Beate Schmidt;1966;German;she/her;murderer;[403] 373 | Amy Schneider;1979;American;she/her;game show contestant;[404] 374 | Scott Turner Schofield;1981;American;he/they;writer and performer;[405] 375 | Lauren Scott;1963;American;she/her;civil rights activist and politician;[406] 376 | "Cariza ""Ice"" Yamson Seguerra";1983;Filipino;he/him;Actor, singer-songwriter and guitarist;[407] 377 | Julia Serano;1967;American;she/her;writer, performer, speaker and activist;[408] 378 | Jackie Shane;1940–2019;American;she/her;soul and rhythm and blues singer;[409][410] 379 | Vivek Shraya;1981;Canadian;she/her;musician, writer, and visual artist;[411] 380 | Lucas Silveira;;Canadian;he/him;rock musician;[412] 381 | Dawn Langley Simmons;1922?–2000;British American;she/her;writer;[413] 382 | Amanda Simpson;1961;American;she/her;political appointee;[335] 383 | Nikki Sinclaire;1968;English;she/her;parliamentarian;[414] 384 | Noah Skaalum;1995;Danish;he/him;singer;[415] 385 | Robin Daniel Skinner (a.k.a. Cavetown);1998;British;he/him, they/them;singer-songwriter, record producer, YouTuber;[416][417] 386 | Nyke Slawik;1994;German;she/her;politician;[418] 387 | Brian Michael Smith;1983;American;he/him;actor;[419] 388 | Gwendolyn Ann Smith;1967;;she/her;activist, writer, founder of Transgender Day of Remembrance;[420] 389 | Misty Snow;1985;American;she/her;first transgender nominee to the United States Senate from a major political party;[353] 390 | Kylie Sonique Love (a.k.a. Sonique);1983;American;she/her (both in and out of drag);drag queen and model.;[421] 391 | Theresa Sparks;1949;American;she/her;politician and entrepreneur;[422] 392 | Rae Spoon;1982;Canadian;they/them;musician;[423] 393 | Susan Stanton;1959;American;she/her;politician;[424] 394 | Jahna Steele;1958–2008;American;she/her;showgirl, actress, writer;[425] 395 | Abby Stein;1991;American;she/her;writer, speaker and activist;[426] 396 | ND Stevenson;1991;American;he/him;cartoonist and animation producer;[427][428] 397 | Georgie Stone;2000;Australian;she/her;activist;[429] 398 | Sandy Stone;1940s;American;she/her;educator;[430] 399 | Stav Strashko;1992;Ukrainian-born Israeli;she/her;model and actress;[431] 400 | Margaret Stumpp;1952;American;she/her;executive;[432] 401 | Kalki Subramaniam;;Indian;she/her;transgender rights activist, artist, writer and entrepreneur;[433] 402 | Lou Sullivan;1951–1991;American;he/him;author and activist;[434] 403 | J.E. Sumerau;;American;she/they;novelist and scholar; 404 | Feroza Syed;;American;she/her;activist of Indian descent;[435][436] 405 | Titica;1987;Angolan;she/her;singer, songwriter, dancer and activist;[437] 406 | Lea T;1981;Brazilian;she/her;fashion model;[438] 407 | Cindy Thái Tài;1981;Vietnamese;she/her;singer, model;[439] 408 | Jenna Talackova;1988;Canadian;she/her;model and beauty pageant contestant;[440] 409 | Audrey Tang;1981;Taiwanese;she/her;free software programmer and Digital Minister;[441][442] 410 | Robyn Leigh Tanguay;1966;American;she/her;scientist;[443] 411 | Maddie Taylor;1966;American;she/her;voice actress;[444] 412 | Ramon Te Wake;1976;New Zealand;she/her;television presenter;[445] 413 | Brandon Teena;1972–1993;American;he/him;"murder victim; subject of the film Boys Don't Cry";[446] 414 | Terre Thaemlitz;1968;American;;musician, DJ and transgender educator;[447] 415 | Aiden Thomas;;American;"he/him; they/them";author of young adult novels;[448] 416 | Abigail Thorn;1993;British;she/her;"actress and YouTuber who runs the channel ""Philosophy Tube""";[449][450] 417 | Jeanne Thornton;1989;American;she/her;writer and copublisher of Instar Books and Rocksalt Magazine;[451][452] 418 | Maddy Thorson;1988;Canadian;she/her;Video game developer;[453] 419 | Efrat Tilma;1947;Israeli;she/her;activist and policewoman;[454] 420 | Billy Tipton;1914–1989;American;he/him;musician;[455] 421 | Brianna Titone;1978;American;she/her;politician and activist;[456] 422 | Josie Totah;2001;American;she/her;actress;[457] 423 | Manuela Trasobares;1962;Spanish;she/her;artist and politician;[458] 424 | Gabrielle Tremblay;1990;Canadian;she/her;writer and actress;[459] 425 | Justine Tunney;1985;;she/her;software developer, former Occupy movement activist and blogger;[460][461] 426 | Gabbi Tuft;1978;American;she/her;professional wrestler;[462] 427 | Zoey Tur;1960;American;she/her;TV reporter, scientist, and helicopter pilot;[463] 428 | Karen Ulane;1941–1989;American;she/her;"pilot fired by Eastern Airlines; discrimination case set Title VII precedent for transgender people";[464] 429 | Natalie van Gogh;1974;Dutch;she/her;professional racing cyclist;[465] 430 | Daniela Vega;1989;Chilean;she/her;actress and mezzo-soprano singer;[466] 431 | Rose Venkatesan;1980;Indian;she/her;TV anchor;[467] 432 | Jennifer Ventimilia;;American;she/her;television writer;[468] 433 | Venus Flytrap;;Thai;;pop group;[469] 434 | Anne Viriato;1997;;she/her;Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter;[470] 435 | Lana Wachowski;1965;American;she/her;filmmaker, producer, comic book writer, screenwriter, co-director of the Matrix films;[471] 436 | Lily Wachowski;1967;American;she/her;film and TV director, screenwriter, producer, comic book writer, video game director, video game writer;[472] 437 | Annie Wallace;1965;British;she/her;actress, first transgender person to portray a regular character in British soap opera history;[473] 438 | Lachlan Watson;2001;American;they/them;actor;[474] 439 | Brianna Westbrook;1984;American;she/her;democratic socialist politician and civil rights activist;[475] 440 | Janine Wegman;1925–2007;Dutch;she/her;musician and artist; 441 | Penny Whetton;1958–2019;Australian;she/her;climatologist and environmental activist;[476] 442 | Blaire White;1993;American;she/her;YouTuber;[477] 443 | Stephen Whittle;1955;British;he/him;lawyer, writer, educator and transgender activist;[478] 444 | Barbara Ann Wilcox;1912–1962;American;she/her;One of the first American trans people to legally change their name.;[479] 445 | Demoria Elise Williams (a.k.a. Kornbread Jeté);1992;African-American;she/her;Drag queen, most known from RuPaul's Drag Race (season 14).;[480] 446 | Raquel Willis;1990/1;American;she/her;writer, activist, and Transgender Law Center national organizer;[481] 447 | Sophie Wilson;1957;British;she/her;computer scientist;[482] 448 | Jia Qing Wilson-Yang;1986;Canadian;she/her;writer;[483] 449 | Joanne Wingate;1960;English;she/her;soldier;[484] 450 | Holly Woodlawn;1946–2015;Puerto Rican;she/her;actor and performer;[485] 451 | Narcissa Wright;1989;American;she/her;video game speedrunner and website creator;[486] 452 | Natalie Wynn (a.k.a. ContraPoints);1988;American;she/her;YouTuber;[487][488] 453 | Sophie Xeon;1986–2021;Scottish;prefers not to use pronouns;electronic musician;[489] 454 | Philippa York;1958;Scottish;she/her;journalist and cyclist;[490] 455 | Marie-Pier Ysser;1935;French;she/her;entertainer and academic;[491] 456 | Jake Zyrus;1992;Filipino;he/him;singer;[492] 457 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /LGBT_in_mythology.txt: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | 2 | 3 | LGBT themes in mythology occur in mythologies and religious narratives that include stories of romantic affection or sexuality between figures of the same sex or that feature divine actions that result in changes in gender. These myths are considered by some modern queer scholars to be forms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) expression, and modern conceptions of sexuality and gender have been retroactively applied to them. Many mythologies ascribe homosexuality and gender fluidity in humans to the action of gods or of other supernatural interventions. 4 | 5 | The presence of LGBT themes in mythologies has become the subject of intense study. The application of gender studies and queer theory to non-Western mythic tradition is less developed, but has grown since the end of the twentieth century.[1] 6 | Myths often include being gay, bisexual, or transgender as symbols for sacred or mythic experiences.[2] Devdutt Pattanaik argues that myths "capture the collective unconsciousness of a people", and that this means they reflect deep-rooted beliefs[3] 7 | about variant sexualities that may be at odds with repressive social mores.[4] 8 | ...Queer manifestations of sexuality, though repressed socially, squeeze their way into the myths, legends and lore of the land. 9 | 10 | Devdutt Pattanaik, The Man who was a Woman and other Queer Tales of Hindu Lore[4] 11 | 12 | The status of mythology varies by culture. Myths are generally believed[by whom?] to be literally true within the society that created them[citation needed] and deemed erroneous or fictitious elsewhere. Cultures may regard myths as containing psychological or archetypal truths. Myths may explain and validate the social institutions of a particular culture,[5] as well as educate the members of that culture. This societal role has been posited for stories that included same-sex love, which educate people as to the correct attitude to adopt toward same-sex sexual activity and gender constructions.[6] 13 | Since the beginning of recorded history and in a multitude of cultures, myths, folklore and sacred texts have incorporated themes of same-sex eroticism and gender identity.[2] Myths often include homosexuality, bisexuality or transgender themes as a symbol for sacred or mythic experiences.[2] Homoeroticism or gender variance in myths have been analysed[by whom?] according to modern conceptions of LGBT identities and behaviours, for example, deities that disguise themselves as, or adopt behaviors traditional to, the opposite gender for a given culture may be called transgender, and beings with no reproductive organs or with both male and female organs may be called androgynous or intersex. Individual myths have been denoted "queer" for rejecting a heteronormative and binary view of gender.[4] The queer interpretations may be based on only indirect evidence, such as an unusually close same-sex friendship or dedication to chastity. Such readings have been criticised for ignoring cultural context or mis-applying modern or Western preconceptions,[7][need quotation to verify] for example in assuming that celibacy means only avoiding penetration or reproductive sex (hence allowing homoerotic sex), while ignoring the widespread beliefs in the spiritual potency of semen that mandate an avoidance of all sex.[7] 14 | Researchers have long recognised the presence of LGBT themes in Western mythologies, and have studied the subject intensely. The application of gender studies and queer theory to non-Western mythic tradition is less developed, but has grown since the end of the twentieth century.[1] Devdutt Pattanaik writes that myths "capture the collective unconsciousness of a people", and that this means they reflect deep-rooted beliefs about variant sexualities that may be at odds with repressive social mores.[4] 15 | Many mythologies ascribe homosexuality and gender variance in humans to the action of gods or to other supernatural interventions. This include myths in which gods teach people about same-sex sexual practices by example, as in Aztec or Hawaiian mythology[8] or myths that explain the cause for transgender identities or homosexuality, such as the story in which Prometheus accidentally creates some people with the wrong genitalia while drunk, or instances of reincarnation or possession by a spirit of the opposite gender in Voodoo. 16 | 17 | It is common in polytheistic mythologies to find characters that can change gender, or have aspects of both male and female genders at the same time. Sexual activity with both genders is also common within such pantheons, and is compared[by whom?] to modern bisexuality or pansexuality.[9] The creation myths of many traditions involve sexual, bisexual or androgynous motifs, with the world being created by genderless or hermaphrodite beings or through sexual congress between beings of the opposite or same apparent gender.[10] 18 | Few records of homosexuality exist in Egyptian mythology,[11] and the written and pictorial works are reticent in representing sexualities.[12] The sources that do exist indicate that same-sex relations were regarded negatively, and that penetrative sex was seen as an aggressive act of dominance and power, shameful to the receiver (a common view in the Mediterranean basin area).[13] 19 | The most well-known example of this occurs in the power-struggle between the sky-god Horus, and his uncle Set, the destructive god of the desert. Set's attempts to prove his superiority include schemes of seduction, in which he compliments Horus on his buttocks and tries to anally penetrate him. Unknowingly failing, Set ejaculates between Horus's thighs, allowing Horus to collect his semen to use against him.[12] Set believes that he has conquered Horus by having "performed this aggressive act against him".[13] Horus subsequently throws the semen in the river, so that he may not be said to have been inseminated by Set. Horus then deliberately spreads his own semen on some lettuce, which was Set's favorite food (the Egyptians regarded lettuce as phallic). After Set has eaten the lettuce, they go to the gods to try to settle the argument over the rule of Egypt. The gods first listen to Set's claim of dominance over Horus, and call his semen forth, but it answers from the river, invalidating his claim. Then, the gods listen to Horus' claim of having dominated Set, and call his semen forth, and it answers from inside Set.[14] The association with an evil god such as Set reinforces the negativity towards all participants in homosexual relationships.[13] 20 | Some authors, however, have interpreted an at least more neutral message. In some versions, the act between Horus and Set was consensual, if improper, and Set's consumption of Horus' seed produced Thoth's lunar disc, thus being somewhat positive in outcome.[15] Likewise, Set was not demonised until very late in Egyptian history, and the sexual act has been recorded since the first versions. 21 | 22 | Human fertility, a major aspect of Egyptian mythology, often became intertwined with the crop fertility provided by the annual flooding of the river Nile.[13] This connection appeared in the iconography of Nile-gods, such as Hapy, god of the Nile River, and Wadj-wer, god of the Nile Delta, who – although male – were depicted with female attributes such as pendulous breasts, symbolizing the fertility the river provides.[16] 23 | The celestial creator deity of Dahomey mythology is Mawu-Lisa, formed by a merger of the twin brother and sister gods Lisa (the moon) and Mawa (the sun). In combined form, they presented as intersex or transgender (with changing gender).[17] Other androgynous gods include Nana Buluku, the "Great mother" that gave birth to Lisa and Mawa and created the universe, and contains both male and female essences.[18] 24 | The Akan people of Ghana have a pantheon of gods that includes personifications of celestial bodies. These personification manifest as androgynous or transgender deities, and include Abrao (Jupiter),[19] Aku (Mercury),[20] and Awo (Moon).[21] 25 | Possession by spirits is an integral part of Yoruba and other African spiritual traditions. The possessed are usually women, but can also be men, and both genders are regarded as the "bride" of the deity while possessed. The language used to describe possession has a sexual and violent connotation but unlike in Yoruba-derived American religions, there is no link assumed between possession and homosexual or gender variant activity in everyday life.[22] 26 | The mythology of the Shona people of Zimbabwe is ruled over by an androgynous creator god called Mwari, who occasionally splits into separate male and female aspects.[23] 27 | The Mayan god Chin, reported from the sixteenth century, is said to have introduced homoeroticism into the Mayan culture and subsequently became associated with same-sex love. His example inspired noble families to purchase young men as lovers for their sons, creating legal relationships akin to marriage.[24] An important Mayan deity best known from the Classical period (200–900 AD), the so-called Tonsured Maize God, is often depicted in Maya art as an effeminate young man associated with art and dance, and is thought to have constituted a 'third gender'.[25] 28 | The male gods Tezcatlipoca and Yaotl once transformed themselves into women to copulate with Huemac.[26] 29 | In Inuit shamanism, the first two humans were Aakulujjuusi and Uumarnituq, both male. This same-sex couple desired company and decided to mate. This sexual encounter resulted in pregnancy for Uumarnituq. As he was physically not equipped to give birth, a spell was cast that changed his sex, giving him a vagina capable of passing the child. The now-female Uumarnituq was also responsible for introducing war into the world via magic, in order to curb overpopulation.[27] The goddess Sedna is an Inuit creator deity, with dominion of marine animals. She is depicted as gynandrous or hermaphroditic in some myths, and is served by two-spirit shamans. Other myths show Sedna as a bisexual or lesbian, living with her female partner at the bottom of the ocean.[28] 30 | Many stories of Native Americans include Coyote seducing apparently lesbian couples, usually much to his detriment in the end. Other great spirits will sometimes take over a female body if no other presents itself when they wish to seduce a beautiful young woman. 31 | 32 | Santería and Candomblé are syncretic religions derived from Yoruba diasporic beliefs and Catholicism, most prevalent in South Americas, including Cuba and Brazil. Their mythologies have many similarities to that of Yoruba, and contains a pantheon of Oríshas (spirits), comparable to (and often identified with) the lwa of Voodoo. 33 | 34 | In one Cuban Santería "pataki", or mythological story, the sea goddess Yemaha is tricked into incestuous sex with her son Shango. To hide her shame at this event, she banished her other two sons, Inle and Abbata, to live at the bottom of the ocean, additionally cutting out Inle's tongue and making Abbata deaf. As a result of their isolation and loneliness, Inle and Abbata become passionate friends and then lovers, able to communicate empathically. This pataki is used to explain the origin of incest, muteness, and deafness in addition to homosexuality.[29] 35 | In Brasil Candomblé, there's Oxumaré. 36 | 37 | A large number of spirits or deities (lwa) exist in Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo. These lwa may be regarded as families of individuals or as a singular entity with distinct aspects, with links to particular areas of life. 38 | 39 | Some lwa have particular links with magic, ancestor worship or death such as the Gede and Bawon. A number of these are further particularly associated with transgender identities or same-sex interactions.[30] These include Ghede Nibo, a spirit caring for those who die young. He is sometimes depicted as an effeminate drag queen and inspires those he inhabits to lascivious sexuality of all kinds, especially transgender or lesbian behaviour in women.[31] Gede Nibo's parents are Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte; Baron Samedi is the leader of the Gede and Bawon and is depicted as bisexual dandy or occasionally transgender, wearing a top-hat and frock coat along with a woman's skirt and shoes. Samedi has a tendency toward "lascivious movements" that cross gender boundaries and also imply a lust for anal sex.[32] 40 | Other bawon displaying gay behaviour are Baron Lundy and Baron Limba, who are lovers and teach a type of homoerotic nude wrestling at their school, believed to increase magical potency.[33] Baron Oua Oua, who often manifests with a childlike aspect, has been called the baron "most closely linked to homosexuality" by Voodoo practitioners.[34] 41 | Another lwa, Erzulie, is associated with love, sensuality and beauty. Erzulie can manifest aspects that are LGBT-related, including transgender or amazonian traits, in addition to traditionally feminine guises. When inhabiting men, these aspects can result in transgender or homoerotic behaviour, whereas they may result in lesbianism or anti-male sentiment in women. Erzulie Freda is seen as the protector of gay men, and Erzulie Dantor is associated with lesbians.[35] 42 | Chinese mythology has been described as "rich in stories about homosexuality".[36] The mythological stories and folklore of China reflect ancient Chinese perspectives toward homosexuality, rather than modern views. These myths are greatly influenced by religious beliefs, particularly Taoist and Confucian, and later incorporated Buddhist teachings.[36] 43 | The pre-Confucian and pre-Taoist tradition of China was predominately shamanistic. Male same-sex love was believed to have originated in the mythical south, thus homosexuality is sometimes still called "Southern wind". From this period, numerous spirits or deities were associated with homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender identities. These include Chou Wang, Lan Caihe,[37][38]Shan Gu, and Yu the Great, and Gun.[39] 44 | Homosexual encounters are common in Chinese folk stories. The animal spirits or fairies often choose same-sex partners, usually young men or boys.[40] According to Xiaomingxiong, one exception to this age preference is the dragon, a powerful mythological beast. Chinese dragons "consistently enjoy sexual relationships with older men", one example being in the tale of "Old Farmer and a Dragon", in which a sixty-year-old farmer is forcibly sodomised by a passing dragon, resulting in wounds from penetration and bites that require medical attention.[40] 45 | Despite the later literature of some Taoist schools disapproval of homosexuality,[41]Tu Er Shen is a deity in Chinese folklore who manages the love and sex between homosexual men. His name literally means "rabbit deity". According to "The Tale of the Rabbit God" in the Zi Bu Yu, Tu Er Shen was originally a man called Hu Tianbao, who fell in love with a handsome young imperial inspector of the Fujian Province. One day Hu Tianbao was caught peeping on the inspector, at which point he confessed his reluctant affections for the other man. The imperial inspector had Hu Tianbao sentenced to death by beating. Since his crime was one of love, underworld officials decided to right the injustice by delegating Hu Tianbao as the god and safeguarder of homosexual affections.[42] In modern times, the priest Lu Weiming (盧威明) founded a temple in Yonghe City, Taiwan, that worships Tu Er Shen and provides spiritual comfort for homosexual Taoists.[43] 46 | For thousands of years, male homosexuality was referred to in literature by alluding to two semi-legendary figures from the early Zhou Dynasty. The first was Mizi Xia and the half-eaten peach which he shared with his lover, the actual historical figure, Duke Ling of Wei. The second was Lord Long Yang, who convinced an unnamed King of Wei to remain faithful to him by comparing himself to a small fish which the King might throw back if a larger fish came along. While both Mizi Xia and Lord Long Yang may have actually existed, nothing is known about them beyond their defining stories, and their presence in Chinese literature was very much that of legendary characters who served as archetypes of homosexual love.[44] 47 | According to Japanese folklore and mythology, homosexuality was introduced into the world by Shinu No Hafuri (小竹祝) and his lover Ama No Hafuri (天野祝). These were servants of a primordial goddess, possibly the sun goddess Amaterasu. Upon the death of Shinu, Ama committed suicide from grief, and the couple were buried together in the same grave.[45][46] In some tellings of the story, the sun did not shine on the burial place until the lovers were disinterred and buried separately, although whether the offense to the sun was due to the homosexual relationship is not stated.[47] 48 | In another tale, Amaterasu retreats from conflict with her brother Susanoo into a cave, depriving the Earth of sunlight and life. In order to coax Amaterasu from the cave, the deity of humour and dance, Ame no Uzume, performs a bawdy sexual dance that involved exposing her breast and vulva, and inviting Amaterasu to admire them. On Amaterasu's stepping out of the cave, the kami Ishi Kori Dome held up a magical mirror, and the combination of the dance and her reflection fascinate Amaterasu so much that she does not notice other spirits closing the cave entrance behind her.[48] 49 | Shinto gods are involved in all aspects of life, including the practice of shudo (traditional pederasty). An overarching patron deity of male-male love and sex, "Shudō Daimyōjin", exists in some folk Shinto sects, but is not a part of the standard Shinto pantheon.[49] 50 | Other kami associated with same-sex love or gender variance include: Shirabyōshi, female kami represented as half-human, half-snake. They are linked to Shinto priestesses of the same name, who perform ritual dances in traditional men's clothing;[50]Ōyamakui, a transgender mountain spirit that protects industry and childbearing;[51] and Inari, the kami of agriculture and rice, who is depicted as various genders, the most common representations being a young female food goddess, an old man carrying rice, and an androgynous bodhisattva.[52] Inari is further associated with foxes and Kitsune, shapeshifting fox trickster spirits. Kitsune sometimes disguise themselves as women, independent of their true gender, in order to trick human men into sexual relations with them.[53] Common belief in medieval Japan was that any woman encountered alone, especially at dusk or night, could be a fox.[54] 51 | In traditional Thai Theravada Buddhism, accounts propose that "homosexuality arises as a karmic consequence of violating Buddhist proscriptions against heterosexual misconduct" in a previous incarnation.[55] Thai Buddhists also believe the disciple Ānanda to have been reincarnated a number of times as a female, and in one previous life to have been transgender.[56] Ānanda is popular and charismatic, and known for his emotionality. In one story of one of his previous lives, Ānanda was a solitary yogi that fell in love with a Nāga, a serpent king of Indian folklore, who took the form of a handsome youth. The relationship became sexual, causing Ānanda to regretfully break off contact, to avoid distraction from spiritual matters.[56] 52 | According to one legend, male same-sex love was introduced into Japan by the founder of the True Word (Shingon) sect of Japanese esoteric Buddhism, Kūkai. Historians however, point that this is probably not true, since Kūkai was an enthusiastic follower of monastic regulations.[57] Some Bodhisattvas change sexes in different incarnations, which causes some to associate this to homosexuality and transgender identities. Guanyin,[58][59]Avalokiteśvara,[60] and Tara are known to have different gender representations.[60] 53 | "“Hindu society had a clear cut idea of all these people in the past. Now that we have put them under one label 'LGBT', there is lot more confusion and other identities have got hidden."[61] 54 | — Gopi Shankar Madurai in National Queer Conference 2013 55 | 56 | Hindu mythology has many examples of deities changing gender, manifesting as different genders at different times, or combining to form androgynous or hermaphroditic beings. Gods change sex or manifest as an Avatar of the opposite sex in order to facilitate sexual congress.[62][63][64][65] Non-divine beings also undergo sex-changes through the actions of the gods, as the result of curses or blessings, or as the natural outcome of reincarnation. 57 | 58 | Hindu mythology contains numerous incidents where sexual interactions serve a non-sexual, sacred purpose; in some cases, these are same-sex interactions. Sometimes the gods condemn these interactions but at other times they occur with their blessing.[66] 59 | In addition to stories of gender and sexual variance that are generally accepted by mainstream Hinduism, modern scholars and queer activists have highlighted LGBT themes in lesser known texts, or inferred them from stories that traditionally are considered to have no homoerotic subtext. Such analyses have caused disagreements about the true meaning of the ancient stories.[67] 60 | In Tagalog mythology, the hermaphrodite Lakapati is identified as the most important fertility deity in the Tagalog pantheon. A prayer dedicated to Lakapati was recited by children when sowing seeds: "Lakapati, pakanin mo yaring alipin mo; huwag mong gutumin (Lakapati, feed this thy slave; let him not hunger)".[68][69] 61 | In Suludnon mythology, there are accounts of female binukots (well-kept maidens) who had powers to transition into male warriors. The most famous of which are Nagmalitong Yawa and Matan-ayon. In one epic, after Buyong Humadapnon was captured by the magical binukot Sinangkating Bulawan, the also powerful female binukot, Nagmalitong Yawa, cast her magic and transitioned into a male warrior named Buyong Sumasakay. He afterwards successfully rescued the warrior Buyong Humadapnon. In a similar epic, the female binukot Matan-ayon, in search of her husband Labaw Donggon, sailed the stormy seas using the golden ship Hulinday together with her less powerful brother-in-law Paubari. Once when she was bathing after sailing far, Buyong Pahagunong spotted her and tried to make her his bride. The event was followed by a series of combat, where in one instance, Matan-ayon transitioned into the male warrior Buyong Makalimpong. After a series of battles, Labaw Donggon arrives and attacks Buyong Pahagunong, while Buyong Makalimpong once again transitioned into Matan-ayon. Matan-ayon then has a conversation with the supreme goddess Laonsina about why the men are fighting and agree to sit back and watch them if they truly are seeking death.[70] 62 | In Waray mythology, the supreme deity is said to be a single deity with both female and male aspects. The female aspect was Malaon, the ancient and understanding deity, while the male aspect was Makapatag, the fearful and destructive leveler deity.[71] 63 | Saints Sergius and Bacchus: Sergius and Bacchus's close relationship has led many modern commentators to believe they were lovers. The most popular evidence for this view is that the oldest text of their martyrology, in the Greek language, describes them as "erastai", or lovers.[72] Historian John Boswell considered their relationship to be an example of an early Christian same-sex union, reflecting his contested view of tolerant early Christian attitudes toward homosexuality.[72] The official stance of the Eastern Orthodox Church is that the ancient Eastern tradition of adelphopoiia, which was done to form a "brotherhood" in the name of God, and is traditionally associated with these two saints, had no sexual implications. In a similar matter regarding paired male saints, Saints Cosmas and Damian have been referred as potentially originally having homoerotic overtones, and that later Christian traditions added them being brothers to conceal that.[73] 64 | Saint Sebastian is a long-standing gay icon.[74] The combination of his strong, shirtless physique, the symbolism of the arrows penetrating his body, and the look on his face of rapturous pain have intrigued artists (gay or otherwise) for centuries, and began the first explicitly gay cult in the 19th century.[74] Richard A. Kaye wrote, "contemporary gay men have seen in Sebastian at once a stunning advertisement for homosexual desire (indeed, a homoerotic ideal), and a prototypical portrait of tortured closet case."[75][76] 65 | Islamic folk beliefs remain common, such as the myths surrounding the Jinn, long-lived shapeshifting spirits created from "smokeless fire" (Quran 15:27) and which correspond to the second group of angels who were created on the 5th day of Creation in the Jewish Qabalistic text, the Bahir ("The Illumination") which were created from "flameless fire". Some believe their shapeshifting abilities allow them to change gender at will but this is not consistent throughout the Islamic world although their ability to fly and travel exceedingly fast are consistent traits of the Jinn. The word Jinn means "hidden from sight"[77] and they are sometimes considered to be led by Shaytaan (Arabic for "Satan") (who is the Devil also known in Islam as Iblis "he who causes despair"[78]), representing powers of magic and rebellion, and posing as bringers of wealth as the devil acclaim.[79] 66 | These traits are associated with the Jinn on account of Shaytaan's rebellion against the order of Allah to acknowledge Adam's ability to be superior to the Jinn and his refusal to bow down stating that "he was created from fire and Adam was created from clay" (Quran 7:11-12). The ability of the Jinn to travel to the heavens and listen to the discussion of angels and bring back what they overhear and relay it to seers and oracles has linked them with magic (Quran 72:8-10). 67 | 68 | Jinn are served by the Al-Jink and Mukhannathun, transgender and homoerotically inclined wanderers with entertainment and spiritual functions.[80] In the pre-Islamic Arabic and Oikoumene cultures, third-gender individuals, such as Mukhannathun were worshippers in widespread Goddess cults.[81] These cults revered a trio of goddesses: Al-lāt, Al-Uzza, and Manāt.[82] which in pre-Islamic Arabia were believed to be daughters of Allah but were denounced as false idols by Muhammad and the Quran (53:19-23).[citation needed] 69 | Arabian mythology also contains magical sex-changing springs or fountains, such as Al-Zahra. Upon bathing in or drinking from Al-Zahra, a person will change sex.[83] The folklore of Swat in northern Pakistan often includes same-sex relationships in which the "beloved" is a handsome younger man or boy.[84] 70 | The story of David and Jonathan has been described as "biblical Judeo-Christianity's most influential justification of homoerotic love".[85] The relationship between David and Jonathan is mainly covered in the Old Testament First Book of Samuel, as part of the story of David's ascent to power. The mainstream view found in modern biblical exegesis argues that the relationship between the two is merely a close platonic friendship.[86][87] However, there has recently been a tradition of interpreting the love between David and Jonathan as romantic or sexual.[88] 71 | Another biblical hero, Noah, best known for his building an ark to save animals and worthy people from a divinely caused flood, later became a wine-maker. One day he drinks too much wine, and fell asleep naked in his tent. When his son Ham enters the tent, he sees his father naked, and Canaan, One of Ham's sons is cursed with banishment. In Jewish tradition, it is also suggested that Ham had anal sex with Noah or castrated him.[89] 72 | The ancient regions of Mesopotamia and Canaan were inhabited by a succession of overlapping civilisations: Sumer, Phoenicia, Akkadia, Babylonia, Assyria. The mythologies of these people were interlinked, often containing the same stories and mythological gods and heroes under different names. 73 | 74 | The Sumerian creation myth, "The Creation of Man", from circa 2000 BCE, lists a number of physically differing people created by the goddess Ninmah.[n 1] These included "the woman who cannot give birth" and "the one who has no male organ or female organ", which have been regarded as being third gender or androgynous. Enki, the supreme god, is accepting of these people and assigns them roles in society as "naditu" (priestesses) and "girsequ" (servants to the king).[90] The Akkadian mythical epic Atrahasis contains another iteration of this story, in which Enki specifically requests that Nintu create a "third-category" of people that includes third-gender people, barren women, and an "infant-stealing demon".[90][n 1] 75 | In ancient Mesopotamia, worship of the goddess Inanna included "soothing laments" sung by third gender priests called "gala".[n 2] According to old Babylonian texts, these priests were created specifically for this purpose by the god Enki. Some gala took female names, and the word itself means "penis+anus", hinting at their androgynous status.[91] The cultural practice, or "me", of androgynous, third-gender or homoerotically inclined priests were part of those said to have been stolen by Innana from Enki in "The Descent of Innana" myth.[91] In the Babylonian Erra myth, the gender of the "kurggaru" and "assinnu" priests was supernaturally changed by the goddess Ishtar, making them feminine.[n 2] The changes may also facilitate possession by the goddess, causing a psychological change or prompting physical castration.[92] 76 | The relationship between the semi-divine hero Gilgamesh and his "intimate companion" Enkidu in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh has been interpreted as a sexual one by some modern scholars. Enkidu was created as a companion to Gilgamesh by the goddess Aruru, and civilised by a priestess.[n 1][93] As Gilgamesh and Enkidu were of similar ages and status, their relationship has been seen as relatively egalitarian, in contrast with the typically pederastic mode of ancient Greece.[11] 77 | Zoroastrianism has been said to have a "hatred of male anal intercourse". This is reflected in its mythology: When Ahriman, the "Spirit of Aridity and Death" and "Lord of Lies", seeks to destroy the world, he engages in self-sodomy. This homosexual self intercourse causes an "explosion of evil power" and results in the birth of a host of evil minions and demons.[94] Ahriman has also been regarded as the patron of men who partake of homosexual sex.[95] However, this negative portrayal of homosexuality in Zoroastrianism is not found in the Gathas, their original holy book which is said to be the direct sayings of the prophet Zoroaster. 78 | 79 | Celtic mythology has no known stories of gay or lesbian relationships nor LGBT characters.[96] Ancient Greek and Roman commentators attribute sexual activity between males, including pederasty, to pre-Christian Celtic tribes.[97] However, Peter Chicheri argues that homosexual affection was severely punished in Celtic culture due to influence from Christianity,[98] and suggests that any non-procreative sexual experience was later expunged from mythic tales.[99] 80 | Conner, Sparks & Sparks (1998) suggest that the heroes and foster-brothers Cúchulainn and Ferdiadh may have had a sexual relationship.[100] The tale has led to comparisons to Greek "warrior-lovers", and Cúchulainn's reaction to the death of Ferdiadh in particular compared to Achilles' lament for Patrocles.[100] 81 | In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion of Welsh mythology, Gwydion helps his brother Gilfaethwy rape Goewin, Math's female servant. When Math hears of this, he turns his nephews into a series of mated pairs of animals; Gwydion becomes a stag for a year, then a sow and finally a wolf. Gilfaethwy becomes a hind deer, a boar and a she-wolf. Each year they must mate and produce an offspring which is sent to Math: Hyddwn, Hychddwn and Bleiddwn; after three years Math releases his nephews from their punishment.[101] 82 | Greek mythology features male same-sex love in many of the constituent myths. These myths have been described as being crucially influential on Western LGBT literature, with the original myths being constantly re-published and re-written, and the relationships and characters serving as icons.[5] In comparison, lesbianism is rarely found in classical myths.[102] 83 | Apollo, an eternal beardless youth himself, had the most male lovers of all the Greek gods, as could be expected from a god who presided over the palaestra.[153] In spite of having no male lovers himself, the love god Eros was sometimes considered patron of pederastic love between males.[154]Aphroditus was an androgynous Aphrodite from Cyprus, in later mythology became known as Hermaphroditus the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. 84 | 85 | Thamyris, the Thracian singer who developed love for Hyacinth, is said to have been the first man to fall in love with another man.[148] In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the characters Iphis and Caeneus change sex.[155] 86 | In the Norse sagas and laws, men who have sex with men in the active or "manly" role were not discriminated as the passive partner in homosexual intercourse (see Ergi).[156] 87 | Georges Dumézil suggested that Freyr, a Norse god of fertility, may have been worshiped by a group of homosexual or effeminate priests, as suggested by Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum.[157] 88 | Some of the Norse gods were capable of changing sex at will. For example Loki, the trickster god, frequently disguised himself as a woman. In one myth, he turned himself into a mare and, after having sex with the stallion Svaðilfari, he gave birth to Sleipnir, an eight-legged foal.[158]Odin was practiced in woman's magic. Though it is unknown as to why magic was thought of as effeminate in this time Odin was accused of ergi.[159] 89 | 90 | The sociologist David F. Greenberg points out:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0} 91 | at first...stigmatization did not extend to active male homosexuality. To take revenge on the disloyal priest Bjorn and his mistress Thorunnr in the Gudmundar Saga "it was decided to put Thorunnr into bed with every buffoon, and to do that to Bjorn the priest, which was considered no less dishonorable." Dishonorable to Bjorn, not to his rapists. In the Edda, Sinfjotli insults Gudmundr by asserting that "all the einherjar (Odin's warriors in Valhalla) fought with each other to win the love of Gudmundr (who was male)." Certainly he intended no aspersions on the honor of the einherjar. Then Sinfjotli boasts that "Gundmundr was pregnant with nine wolf cubs and that he, Sinfjotli, was the father." Had the active, male homosexual role been stigmatized, Sinfjotli would hardly have boasted of it.[160] 92 | The indigenous population of Australia have a shamanistic religion, which includes a pantheon of gods. The rainbow serpent god Ungud has been described as androgynous or transgender. Shaman identify their erect penises with Ungud, and his androgyny inspires some to undergo ceremonial subincision of the penis.[161] Angamunggi is another transgender rainbow-serpent god, worshipped as a "giver of life".[162] 93 | Other Australian mythological beings include Labarindja, blue-skinned wild women or "demon women" with hair the colour of smoke.[163] Stories about them show them to be completely uninterested in romance or sex with men, and any man forcing his attention upon them could die, due to the "evil magic in their vaginas". They are sometimes depicted as gynandrous or intersex, having both a penis and a vagina. This is represented in ritual by having their part played by men in women's clothes.[164] 94 | Third gender, or gender variant, spiritual intermediaries are found in many Pacific island cultures, including the bajasa of the Toradja Bare'e people of Celebes, the bantut of the Taosug people of the south Philippines, and the bayoguin of the pre-Christian Philippines. These shamans are typically biologically male but display feminine behaviours and appearance.[165] The pre-Christian Philippines had a polytheistic religion, which included the transgender or hermaphroditic gods Bathala and Malyari, whose names means "Man and Woman in One" and "Powerful One" respectively; these gods are worshipped by the Bayagoin.[166] 95 | The Big Nambas of Vanuatu have the concept of divinely approved-of homoerotic relationships between men, with the older partner called the "dubut". This name is derived from the word for shark, referring to the patronage of the shark-human hydrid creator god Qat.[167] 96 | Among their pantheon of deities, the Ngaju Dayak of Borneo worship Mahatala-Jata, an androgynous or transgender god. The male part of this god is Mahatala, who rules the Upperworld, and is depicted as a hornbill living above the clouds on a mountain-top; the female part is Jata, who rules the Underworld from under the sea in the form of a water-snake. These two manifestations are linked via a jewel-encrusted bridge that is seen in the physical world as a rainbow. Mahatala-Jata is served by "balian", female hierodules, and "basir" transgender shamans metaphorically described as "water snakes which are at the same time hornbills".[168] Similar transgender shamans, the "manang bali", are found in the Iban Dayak people. Girls fated to become manang bali may first dream of becoming a woman and also of being summoned by the god/dess Menjaya Raja Manang or the goddess Ini.[169] Menjaya Raja Manang began existence as a male god, until his brother's wife became sick. This prompted Menjara into becoming the world's first healer, allowing her to cure her sister-in-law, but this treatment also resulted in Menjara changing into a woman or androgynous being.[170] 97 | Polynesian religions feature a complex pantheon of deities. Many of these gods refer to their companions of either sex as "aikane", a term encompassing passionate friendship and sexual-love, often in bisexual contexts.[171][172] 98 | Wahineomo, a goddess of Hawaiian mythology whose name means "thrush woman", is depicted in relationships with other goddesses Hi'iaka and Hopoe.[173] When Hi'iaka was suspected of infidelity with her sister Pele's husband, the volcano goddess Pele killed Hi'iaka's beloved Hopoe by covering her in lava.[174] In addition to Wahineomo and Hopoe, Hi'iaka had lesbian relationships with the fern goddess Pauopalae and Pele-devotee Omeo.[175][176] Omeo was part of the retinue that brought the bisexual Prince Lohiau to Pele after his death. During his life Lohiau was the lover of both the female Pele and male Paoa.[177] 99 | Other Polynesian LGBT figures include the Hawaiian Haakauilanani, a male servant and lover to the "Earth mother" creator goddess Papa and her husband Wakea.[178] Non-divine LGBT characters also exist in Polynesian mythology, such as the (male) shaman Pakaa and his chief and lover Keawe-Nui-A-'umi,[179] and the famed fisherman Nihooleki, who was married to a woman but also had a relationship with the pig god Kamapua'a.[180] Kamapua'a was also responsible for sending the love-god Lonoikiaweawealoha to seduce Pele's brother gods Hiiakaluna and Hiiakalalo, hence distracting them from attacking him.[181] Kamapua'a's other male lovers included Limaloa, the bisexual god of the sea and mirages.[182] 100 | Hi'iaka, a daughter or sister of Pele had "Aikane" (from: "ai", meaning: [intimate sexual relationship]; "kane", [man, husband, consort]) relationships with several female lovers including Hopoe, Omeo, Wahineʻomaʻo, and Pauo-Palae. 101 | 102 | The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu tells the story of four māhū - individuals of dual male and female mind, heart, and spirit - who long ago brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawai'i. Before they left, they used special dual male-female tiki to transfer their powers to four large boulders that the people brought to Waikiki. These stones still exist on Waikiki Beach, and may be the only monument in the world to honor and uplift gender fluidity.[2][3] 103 | 104 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------