There were laws in many places in the states that banned "crossdressing" which was applied to trans and gay people alike. While the specific term "transgender" hasn't been around very long, the gay community has always included a lot of gender-nonconformity. It's part of the reason gender is lumped in with sexuality in the first place. Anti-homosexuality laws would've applied to trans people as well. I still remember how in the 90's trans women were considered feminine gay men by people outside the community. I can look up the sources if you like, but that's my understanding.
pessimizer|1 year ago
emilamlom|1 year ago
> The birth of anti-cross-dressing laws (also known as masquerade laws and the three-article rule)[31] stemmed from the increase in non-traditional gender expression during the spread of America's frontier, and the will to reinforce the two-gender system which was threatened by those who deviated from it.[32] Some of the earlier cases of US arrests made due to cross-dressing are seen in 19th century Ohio. In 1848, Ohio passed a law which prohibited its citizens from publicly presenting themselves "in a dress not belonging to his or her sex," and during the 1850s, over 40 cities in the US went on to pass anti-cross-dressing laws.[33] By the time the US entered WWI, over 150 cities had passed anti-cross-dressing ordinances.
earthboundkid|1 year ago