Transgender people were visible in society much longer than many realise today. Rare photographs by organiser Alison Laing from the 1950s prove this. The images show how transgender people had already claimed their place in society for decades.

Alison Laing was a respected organiser and activist in her time. The photographs show her in daily life with friends and colleagues. She worked on important community matters. All of this happened when transgender identity was not openly discussed.

These photographs are valuable because they tell a different story. The common view is that transgender visibility is something recent. But Laing and others were already there. They lived their lives despite great social obstacles. They organised and contributed to their communities.

This matters for history. It shows transgender people did not suddenly appear. They were always present, but their stories went untold. Laing's photographs help correct this. They give a face to a long-forgotten chapter of history.