A Century of Trans Identity in Music: Proof That This Is Nothing New
If you’ve spent any time on social media or in the comment section of a particularly rage-fueled tabloid, you’ll have seen the claim that trans people are a “modern invention”, a kind of Gen Z TikTok experiment alongside whipped coffee and inexplicably baggy jeans.
But here’s the thing: trans people have always existed. And if you don’t believe me, don’t take my word for it—just ask music history. From smoky jazz bars in the 1920s to punk dives in the ‘70s and stadium rock in the ‘80s, songs about gender identity have been right there, sometimes loud and proud, sometimes whispered between the lines.
So let’s take a little time-traveling musical tour through the last 100 years of songs that prove gender fluidity, trans identities, and questioning the binary are older than most of our grandparents.
The Early Years (1920s-1950s): Jazz Hands and Gender Bends
Before rock and roll even existed, gender nonconformity was already being sung about. “Masculine Women, Feminine Men” (1926) was a cheeky jazz tune that poked fun at how men and women were starting to blur traditional roles (and gave us proof that “gender confusion” was considered trendy a whole century ago).
Fast-forward to the 1950s, and Christine Jorgensen, one of the first trans women to receive widespread media attention, was being name-dropped in music. Lou Reed wasn’t the first artist to sing about trans icons—Christine’s story was celebrated in various songs, proving that trans people weren’t just visible, they were inspirational.
The ‘60s: Peace, Love, and Gender Fluidity
By the 1960s, the counterculture movement embraced pushing social boundaries—including those around gender. Van Morrison’s “Madame George” (1968) introduced a character many believe to be a trans woman, set against a dreamlike, nostalgic backdrop. The song’s ambiguous lyrics might have been poetic, but the subject was clear: gender nonconformity existed, and people were singing about it.
Phil Ochs’ “Rehearsals for Retirement” (1969) may not have been explicitly about being trans, but Ochs himself experimented with gender presentation, sometimes performing in feminine clothing. Disrupting the gender binary wasn’t just an academic discussion—it was happening in folk clubs and on protest stages.
The ‘70s: Glam Rock, Punk, and Outright Defiance
Ah, the ‘70s—the decade where gender-bending went mainstream. You couldn’t throw a feather boa without hitting a rock star in eyeliner and heels.
- Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” (1972) gave a crash course in trans history, name-checking Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling—trans women from Andy Warhol’s Factory scene—without sensationalism, just storytelling.
- Jayne County, an openly trans punk pioneer, snarled her way through tracks like “Man Enough to Be a Woman” (1978), throwing a Molotov cocktail at gender norms long before most people knew what “nonbinary” meant.
- David Bowie, Prince, and New York Dolls blurred gender lines on stage, influencing generations of kids who didn’t see themselves in the mainstream.
Meanwhile, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Christine” (1980) referenced Christine Jorgensen directly, making it clear that trans figures weren’t just being whispered about—they were part of the cultural fabric.
The ‘80s: Big Hair, Big Synths, and Big Statements
The 1980s weren’t just about excess—they were about visibility. While the mainstream music industry was still skittish about outright discussions of trans identity, artists were pushing boundaries harder than ever.
- Aerosmith’s “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” (1987)—while played for comedy—acknowledged that gender ambiguity was noticeable enough in pop culture to warrant a rock anthem.
- Cyndi Lauper (a lifelong LGBTQ+ ally) brought gender nonconforming people into the limelight in her music and videos, making them part of her neon-colored world of self-expression.
- Even in the underground, trans and gender-expansive artists were thriving, setting the stage for the alternative explosion of the ‘90s.
The Takeaway: This Isn’t a Trend—It’s History
The idea that trans people are a “new” phenomenon is about as accurate as claiming the electric guitar was invented last Thursday.
From jazz to punk to pop, songs about gender identity have been playing for a century—and that’s just the music we know about. Trans people have been here, living, loving, and making art long before anyone decided to turn it into a “debate.”
So the next time someone claims that trans identities are some sort of “modern fad,” turn up The Kinks, Lou Reed, or Jayne County, and remind them that trans people have been making history long before they had an internet comment section to argue in.
Rock on, and stay unapologetically yourself.
That’s the kind of music history lesson they won’t teach you in school—but maybe they should. 🎸💥
