U.K. Museum Identifies Roman Emperor Elagabalus as Transgender Woman

Despite controversy, the North Hertfordshire Museum stands by its decision, citing classical texts as evidence of Elagabalus's self-identification as a woman.

• The North Hertfordshire Museum in the United Kingdom has identified Roman Emperor Elagabalus as a transgender woman, based on classical texts where she is quoted as saying, “Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady.”
• The museum will now refer to Elagabalus, who ruled from 218 to 222 AD, with the pronouns she/her, stating it is 'polite and respectful' to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past.
• Elagabalus was married five times, including once to a chariot driver Hiercoles, and was referred to as 'wife, mistress, and queen'.
• However, experts are divided on the museum's decision, with some suggesting that the texts may have been written to undermine Elagabalus's rule or that they were written when she was an early teenager.
• Despite the controversy, the museum maintains its decision, stating that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use.

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