Photos of activist Alison Laing prove: transgender people existed much longer than we think.

The images come from the 1950s. They show Laing as an organiser in the LGBTQ+ community. Her work was forgotten or ignored for years.

Historians recently discovered these photos in archives. They show a different picture of transgender visibility in America. Many people thought this was only modern.

Laing organised meetings and supported other transgender people. She worked with gay and lesbian activists. This happened when this was extremely dangerous.

The photos show how transgender people lived and stood up for themselves then. These were not hidden lives, but active, visible communities.

Scientists say: we don't know this history well enough. Many archives contain more evidence of early transgender activism. These stories deserve more attention.

The discovery helps transgender people today. It shows: we have fought for recognition for decades. This is not new. It is finally visible now.