Gender diversity exists around the world.
When we see gender diverse people existing all over the world, it helps us understand that gender diversity has a rich history in many different cultures.
Trans and non-binary people exist in societies across the globe — and they often serve important roles in their communities and cultures. These histories are present on every continent, and in some cases, records of trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary people date back millennia.
“I learned about the Myth of Ishtar, goddess of fertility and war. Her husband died and she took his place in the Underworld. To free her, the gods created Asushunamir, a non-binary person who was neither a man nor a woman, to go into the Underworld to rescue her. This is a story for the earliest recorded civilization.” — TTNB youth on the presence of gender diversity in cultures across time
The histories of trans and non-binary people across cultures continue to be discovered and understood in new ways. Though some terms we now use to refer to gender diversity are relatively new, these identities and experiences are not.
Research Points
You may have questions about the history of trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary people throughout time and across cultures. Get the facts and clarify what you know by reading:
