Comics Toregene Khatun (?-1246) Empress of the Mongols Although her tribe was destroyed and she was forced into an unwanted marriage, this indomitable woman came to run the world's largest empire - with a woman as her companion.
Vasilisa Vasilyevna (Russian Folktale) The Gender-Nonconforming Heroine Who Kept the Tsar Guessing When the Tsar became hellbent on nailing down her gender, this clever gender-nonconforming heroine kept him guessing to the end.
Comics Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz (1651-1695) The Phoenix of Mexico This brilliant poet rose from illegitimacy and poverty to become one of the luminaries of her age - until she flew too close to the sun.
Isabelle Eberhardt (1877-1904) The Undefinable Adventurer This undefinable adventurer's life burnt bright but short: a wildcard of the Algerian revolution, she survived an assassination attempt by sabre, and died in a freak desert flood.
Catalina de Erauso (1585/92-1650) The Lieutenant Nun After escaping from a convent, this swashbuckler had the strength to chase her dreams: which were apparently to drink, fight, and womanize.
Julie d’Aubigny (1670-1707) Princess of the Opera Sword-slinging, opera-singing bisexual rock star of the 17th century - who burnt down a convent to romance a nun and had to be pardoned by the king of France TWICE.
Osh-Tisch (1854-1929) Princess of Two Spirits The last Crow nation baté (Two Spirit mystic) in history, she earned her name -- which means "Finds Them and Kills Them" -- by tirelessly fighting to preserve her way of life.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973) The Mother of Rock 'n Roll The godmother of rock and roll, this black bisexual singer fused gospel and pop to blaze her own way across the Jim Crow-era south.
Marsha P. Johnson (1944-1992) Godmother of the Trans Civil Rights Movement This cheery godmother of trans civil rights masked a dark past of abuse.
Marie Equi (1872-1952) The Mom Who Broke Every Taboo She Could Once upon a time, there was a lesbian Wild West abortion doctor. She once horsewhipped a guy in the face and was tossed in San Quentin Prison for sedition. To the surprise of no one, she lived in Portland.