10/19/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CodPip6DF/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Born Alberta “Lucille” Hart in 1890 in Oregon, Alan L. Hart transitioned in 1917—one of the first documented transgender men in the U.S. to undergo gender-affirming surgery, funded by his supportive wife and performed by Dr. J. Allen Gilbert.
Hart went on to become a pioneering radiologist, authoring the 1936 book X-Ray for Early Diagnosis of Lung and Stomach Cancer, which popularized mass X-ray screening programs that detected tuberculosis and cancer early, saving countless lives during a time when such tech was nascent.
Despite facing medical board scrutiny over his transition, Hart built a private practice in Connecticut, advocated for public health, and wrote pulp fiction under pseudonyms exploring q***r themes.
His story, often eclipsed by later trans icons, highlights how personal authenticity fueled scientific breakthroughs in an era of pathologized q***rness.
October is LGBTQ History Month, a time to reflect on the LGBTQ pioneers who shaped our future and paved the way for innovation, creativity and a better future for q***r communities.
