Eli Erlick

Curious what top surgery looked like in the 1930s? Surprisingly similar to today.

I found this photo in the Wellcome Collection medical archives holding the English edition of the Plastic Surgery Atlas 3. It shows an intersex man who underwent a double mastectomy nearly a century ago.

A little lost trans story: a 22-year-old trans woman won a 1967 Wyoming beauty contest. She entered the pageant just a year after she transitioned. Unfortunately, the judges disqualified her after she came out to a competitor. I guess trans women have an unfair advantage in beauty contests?

The recent RI shooter was a transgender neo-Nazi, so I'm resharing the preview of my forthcoming @uchicagopress.bsky.social book on this surprisingly common topic. The @glreview.bsky.social piece explores Buck Angel’s transition from progressive darling to MAGA acolyte glreview.org/article/maki...

I love it when they fail at being hateful.

I’m delivering the University of York LGBT+ History Month Lecture virtually on the 25th at 1:30 EST/6:30 GMT. It's free and open to the public! Dr. Melissa Oliver-Powell and I will answer all your questions about trans people, past and present. www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Republican-led @plasticsurgeryasps.bsky.social just became the only major medical org to deny trans care. Their baseless and potentially life-threatening recommendation would delay treatment until 19. It's no coincidence the arbitrary age aligns with Trump's threats to those offering trans medicine.

JK Rowling:
✅ Holocaust denier
✅ Epstein supporter
✅ Pedoph!lia defender

She is truly the most fitting figurehead for the anti-trans movement

3.5 million pages later… there’s still only one trans person in the files. The new documents show that they settled out of court for $28k. I previously verified this with someone familiar with the case. All her accusations were true.

1,122 results.

The corporations and oligarchs that now effectively run the government will only listen to lost revenue. It's far past time for a general strike. Dismantling ICE is not enough, but it is a good start.

I’ll be speaking at Yale on trans history in 2 weeks! If you’re in New Haven, it's free & open to the public. If you’re a member of Yale Republicans, consider holding a protest so we can use your hate for publicity. Either way, thanks for your support!

(Previous date postponed due to snowstorm)

Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History 1850-1950 Discover the trailblazing lives of thirty trans people who will radically change everything you've been told about transgender history.

Join us online in Feb for @uoyevents.bsky.social's LGBT+ History Month Lecture, this year given by @elierlick.bsky.social. Discover the trailblazing lives of 30 trans people who will change everything you've been told about transgender history. Register here: www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve... #booksky

I don’t usually tour in the winter, but we’re back by popular demand! All these events are free and open to the public. Can you make it?

Anti-ICE protesters chased off white supremacist Jake Lang yesterday during his "March Against Minnesota Fraud" (with 10 supporters). I've never seen people egging a speaker like they do in cartoons before, but apparently it works. Way to go, Minneapolis!

Three of my favorite protest signs from NYC's rally to protect trans kids this weekend. 😍

It's always a great day to celebrate trans kids, especially during National Sticker Day! I was tired of seeing the original anti-trans messages on these everywhere, so I decided to make some trans-positive copies. 🙌 Get your own at elierlick.com/product/tran...

The life of an ICE agent by Jesse Duquette

If you let them ban the unicorn, you let them ban anything they want (@harperzacharias.com made these and I can’t stop thinking about them).

Mansplaining like this is how you know trans women are women

If there's a holiday, Marsha P Johnson had an outfit for it! In 1991, she celebrated the New Year in Randy Wicker's lighting shop with a tuxedo, pearl necklace, and party hat.

Thanks to trans men donating their tissue, we know the exact number of nerve fibers in the clitoris.

Marsha P. Johnson in her Christmas tiara is all I want for Christmas. This Polaroid was taken in Randy Wicker's lighting store in 1988. Another treasure from the NY LGBT Community Center archives. 😍

Why is the right so scared of the term "pregnant people"? Trans men get pregnant all the time. So do girls, unfortunately. It's not just women. The term "pregnant person" isn't just about inclusivity: it's also about accuracy.

Puberty blockers were a reversible compromise for those feeling uncertain. Giving teens less time to reflect helps no one. I have 0 transition regrets, remorse, or worry. This is true for 99% of us - a medical miracle we should celebrate. Trans kids have been speaking up. It's past time to listen.

When I was 15, this pill saved my life. Estrogen (and T blockers) were the only way I could escape a puberty that would leave me permanently uncomfortable with my body. Puberty can feel like permanent disfigurement for trans teens. Forcing trans teens into the wrong development is pure cruelty.

The Trump Administration just sent horrifying warning letters to 12 companies for offering binders. These compression tops aren't usually considered medical devices, but the FDA is demanding the companies register their products. It's a not-so-subtle threat to businesses supporting trans people.

Are trans athletes anything new? Nope! With this week’s moral panic over trans pool players, I wanted to highlight the 1910s-20s women's billiards world champion, Frances Anderson. Trans women like her have just as much a right to compete - and win - as anyone else.

There is, in fact, an easy solution to the transgender bathroom problem. Bigots can use one restroom and normal people who aren't trying to inspect your genitals can get the other.

Elon Musk could donate $50 million every day for the rest of his life and still remain a billionaire, but he won't.

Textbook case of how media produces racism. "Intifada" just means "resistance" in Arabic. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Seeing journalists exploit this tragedy to stir up anti-Muslim outrage before the shooters' motives were known was disgusting.