When and where did transgenderism and transsexualism first began?

Transgenderism and transsexualism have existed in various forms throughout history and across cultures, but the modern understanding of these identities began to take shape in the early 20th century. In the 1910s and 1920s, figures like Magnus Hirschfeld in Germany advocated for transgender rights and medical interventions. The term "transsexual" was coined in the mid-20th century, particularly popularized by psychiatrist Harry Benjamin in the 1950s. Different cultures have long recognized gender diversity, but the contemporary discourse emerged primarily in Western contexts during the 20th century.