In this episode, a recently vaccinated Grace and Jess discuss the life and times of Mary Jones (born December 12, 1803, as Peter Sewally) was a black transgender New York Sex Worker and US soldier. She would wear "a dashing suit of male apparel" in the day while dressing in feminine attire.  She is considered to be one of the first recorded openly transgender people in New York history.  Sadly, she also served time in prison, which brings about discussion of the origins of the New York prison system

 

Sources:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jones_(trans_woman)

Xtra article: https://xtramagazine.com/power/mary-jones-patron-saint-of-the-scam-72972

Transas City: http://transascity.org/mary-jones-1836/

Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/raquelwillis_/status/834862459156471808?lang=en

Bustle: https://www.bustle.com/p/5-black-trans-women-in-history-who-paved-the-way-for-me-8095625

Another Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/campbellx/status/1233911424663117824?lang=en

Mygwork: https://www.mygwork.com/en/my-g-news/black-on-both-sides-snortons-retelling-of-black-trans-history

Out History: https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/sewally-jones/man-monster

Autostraddle: https://www.autostraddle.com/10-lesser-known-trans-women-pioneers-from-history-316582/

http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/state/html/nyprisons.html

https://www.vera.org/reimagining-prison-web-report/american-history-race-and-prison

Wikipedia - timeline of new york 1770s - 1850s

Wikipedia - Great New York Fire

Wikipedia - Black New York History