Deviants and Trailblazers: A History of Trans Activism in Britain

'A hugely enjoyable, carefully crafted account and analysis of trans activism from the 1960s to today ... an essential book' Zoë Playdon, author of The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes

'We cannot move forward without knowing where we've been. Making this history accessible is an act of resistance' Marty Davis, founder of Trans+ History Week

'A one of a kind, necessary map of trans history' Sabah Choudrey, author of Supporting Trans People of Colour

At a time when trans rights are under attack across Britain and beyond, Deviants and Trailblazers arrives as a powerful antidote, uncovering a rich, overlooked history. Spanning from the first legal gender changes in 1944 and the devastating Corbett v. Corbett ruling in 1970, to the groundbreaking Gender Recognition Act of 2004 and the ongoing battle for reform today, this is a gripping chronicle of resistance and radical change.

Far from being a recent invention or a niche concern, legal recognition of trans identities has been a demand of trans communities for generations. Rebecca Jane Morgan shows how that fight emerged, evolved, and was sustained by grassroots organizing, court battles, and an unwavering demand by the trans community to be recognized by the very systems that so often try to erase them.

In a moment defined by pseudoscience, moral panic, and political backlash, this authoritative and readable account of the movement to date offers clarity, context, and hope.

Rebecca Jane Morgan is a transfeminist historian of modern Britain, popular culture, and queer identities. She is the author of Gender Heretics: Evangelicals, Feminists, and the Alliance Against Trans Liberation.

Author: Rebecca Jane Morgan
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Pluto Press (UK)
Published: 05/08/2026
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.51h x 5.51w x 1.01d
ISBN: 9780745351759