Alan L. Hart was an American physician, radiologist, writer, and expert in tuberculosis screening. He was also one of the first trans men to undergo a documented transition in the United States. Born in Kansas in 1890, Hart was assigned female at birth with the name Alberta Lucille. But from an early age, he presented as male, wearing men’s clothing and writing under a male pseudonym. By the time he had obtained his medical degree from the University of Oregon in 1917, Hart had decided to undergo a medical transition: a full hysterectomy, after which he legally changed his name from Alberta to Alan. As he said himself: “I am happier since I made this change than I have ever been in my life, and I will continue this way as long as I live… I am ashamed of nothing.”
During the 1920s and 30s, Hart became an expert on tubercular radiology, developing a screening method for detecting tuberculosis in the early stages – a method which saved millions of lives. For most people, this probably would have been enough. But during this time, Hart was also a prolific writer alongside his medical practice and research, publishing four novels and countless short stories over his lifetime.
Hart’s story is one of courage and joy in the face of hardship, and today his legacy as a transgender man continues to inspire people across the globe. We're proud to celebrate his life and work with this tea towel, sketched in the iconic pink and blue of the trans flag.
