Mary Jones Appears in Court

Mary Jones, born Peter Sewally on December 12, 1803, emerged as one of the first recorded openly transgender individuals in American history. A transgender sex worker and soldier, she faced the challenges of an intolerant society during the mid-19th century. Jones fearlessly embraced her authentic identity, navigating between masculine and feminine presentations to solicit sexual services from men and steal their money. Notably, she became the subject of a sensational trial in 1836, charged with grand larceny for pickpocketing men she engaged with. Throughout the trial, Jones defiantly appeared in court wearing feminine attire, unapologetically sharing her experiences as a transgender black person with a predominantly white audience. Despite facing mockery and sensational media attention, Jones' legacy has been re-evaluated by modern historians, celebrating her as a trailblazer for transgender visibility. The Museum of the City of New York recognizes her as one of the first known gender variant/transgender people in New York history. Today, artists like Arthur Jafa and filmmaker Tourmaline honor her memory, ensuring that her story remains an integral part of LGBTQ+ history and continues to inspire discussions on gender identity and resilience.