EXCLUSIVE: We've Been Around Showcases History's Forgotten Trans Heroes

To celebrate the release of The Danish Girl on Blu-ray/DVD take a look at these five short documentaries chronicling the lives of heroic and historical trans pioneers.

The Danish Girl is officially released on Blu-ray /DVD today, and while the life of Lili Elbe — one of the first trans women ever to receive gender confirmation surgery — will forever be immortalized in the movie that stars Oscar winners Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, there are still plenty of other trans pioneers whose narratives have been lost to time. Until now.

Directed by Rhys Ernst (co-producer of Amazon's hit Transparent) and produced by Christine Beebe, We've Been Around is series of documentary shorts that chronicle the lives of Lucy, STAR, Albert, Little Ax, and Lou. Each trans trailbalzers in their own right, and each with stories that have, until recently, gone largely unnoticed by mainstream society. From the narrators to the composer to the animator, the series was made with a breadth of talent from the trans community. The team includes Transparent actress Alexandra Billings; writer and filmmaker Susan Stryker; and trans historian Monica Roberts.

“The trans movement may be making headlines, but our rich history is often overlooked," Ernst said in a press release. "Trans people have always existed, and have lived many different lives. The central theme of We’ve Been Around is stated in the title. We’ve been here, throughout time, often hidden in plain sight. These stories show us just how important it is to share our histories.”

Watch all five in the videos below.