In a time where trans rights were entirely nonexistent, Lucy Hicks Anderson was a fighter.
Time Inc. and ESSENCE have partnered with Focus Features and the Advocate to bring you the story of Anderson, a trans woman and socialite who found herself on trial for marrying a man and wearing women’s clothes during Prohibition-era America.
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“The trans movement may be making headlines, but our rich history is often overlooked,” filmmaker Rhys Ernst, who directed the short documentary on Anderson, said in a statement. “Trans people have always existed and have lived many different lives.”
In addition to Anderson’s story, Ernst is bringing six other trans pioneers’ stories to life as part of his We’ve Been Around docuseries.
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“The central theme of We’ve Been Around is stated in the title,” Ernst said. “We’ve been here, throughout time, often hidden in plain sight. These stories show us just how important it is to share our histories.”
Check out the documentary on Anderson below, and visit People.com and EW.com to watch profiles of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Wilmer “Little Axe” Broadnax, Lou Sullivan and Albert Cashier, five other trans activists who have paved the way.