We Have Always Existed

Transgender Ancient History

To my trans siblings,

There’s a lot of noise out there about us, and most of it isn’t true.

You and I, and our fellow trans siblings know that. Even the quislings among us do. But when they control the narrative, they can say whatever they want about us.

They can use mainstream media to tell everybody that being transgender is a crazy modern thing made up by freedom hating communists or confused young kids all they want, but that’s not going to make it true.

My trans sibling, you and I are the culmination of a rich, glorious transgender tradition, in the Mediterranean and Near East at least, that spans more than ten thousand years.

We’re older than Rome, older than Greece, older than ancient Egypt, older than Persia and Babylon.

We’re older than Islam, older than Christianity, older than Judaism.

We predate the fundamental building blocks of Western civilization.

Before any of it, we were here.

If you’re new to transgender ancient history, this might come as a surprise, and that’s a shame.

You and I, and all our trans siblings, deserve to know about our history.

But nobody has been telling these ancient stories in an organized, accessible way.

At least, not until now.

Welcome. I’m Sophie Edwards, a transgender woman and the host of We Have Always Existed.

We Have Always Existed is a video essay series that explores the histories we have about transgender people in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, histories cisgender researchers have either briefly glossed over or ignored entirely.

In We Have Always Existed, you’ll discover:

  • The Enarei, the Scythian trans feminine priestesses who may have figured out an early form of HRT, 2500 years ago
  • Elagabalus, The Roman Emperor who may have been a transgender woman
  • What the myths of Hermaphroditus, Akhilles, Teiresias, and many more can tell us about transgender and intersex people in the ancient world
  • The Gallae, the trans feminine priestesses of the goddess Kybele, whose origins predate Christianity
  • And much, much more

What’s more, you’ll get a better understanding of your place in the human story, which goes back even further than we have history to read.

It might not change what’s happening today, and it might not change the minds of any committed transphobes who don’t seem to care about living in reality. But I hope you’ll walk away from this series feeling empowered.

Below, you’ll find each episode, in reverse order. Other than the intro episode, which outlines my approach to this research, they don’t need to be watched in any particular order.

My trans sibling, you and I are so much more than what the forces of hatred want you to be.

You’re beautiful. You’re wonderful. And you’re more powerful than you realize.

Join me, won’t you?

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