The reporting on Sadie Acosta was limited, but in what world could I not include a trans woman who argued, “I rather be a woman, so I am a woman” in 1941? A performative speech acts at its finest. In her fight to avoid the draft, Sadie ended up providing an example of early nonviolent protest.
I considered not publishing Sadie’s draft card, but decided that it does not matter now that she is deceased and the trans community is better understood. I did not include it in Before Gender, but I want those interested in her story to consider the frustration engraved into the card with the deep strokes of her pen.
There was not a “Hispanic” category in recordkeeping like there is today, meaning Sadie registered as solely “Indian” (Native American).
The defiance on her face (The Fort Collins Express-Courier, Jan 7, 1941, page 2)
The iconic line in The Mendocino Beacon, Jan 18, 1941.
Sadie restored her house in the 1930s and 40s. This is a photo of the property from 1948, shortly after Sadie moved.
Here is a more recent photo of Sadie’s house from Zillow. It looks impressively similar to when Sadie lived there.
