The untold story of Sally-Tom, who legally changed her gender in the 1860s
This excerpt from Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History by Eli Erlick dispels the myth that transgender people are somehow a new phenomenon.
June 08 2025 6:00 AM
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Eli Erlick
Eli Erlick is the author of "Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850 – 1950." She is an internationally acclaimed activist, author, and educator. In 2011, she founded Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER), a national organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans students. In the years that followed, Erlick has been at the forefront of social justice issues through her research, organizing, and cultural criticism. Blending innovative research with cutting-edge activism, she undertook her doctoral studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Erlick’s work and writing have been featured in hundreds of outlets including the New York Times, Time Magazine, and the Washington Post. She lives in New York City, where she continues to fight for trans liberation.
