It is 1865. You are Doctor James Barry, stealth transgender man and former Inspector General for the British army. You leave notice that upon your death your body must not be examined. This is not followed, and a media circus follows with a shocking gender reveal. Transitioning is new and experimental.
It is 1876. You are author Marc/Marie de Montifaud. You "crossdress" as a man when visiting the library for research, use the names Marc and Marie interchangably, and your pronouns are known by multiple people to be she/he. Transitioning is new and experimental.
It is 1880. You are known mononymously as the decadent author Rachilde. You delight in presenting publicly as sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes in between. You joyfully describe yourself as "androgynous". Transitioning is new and experimental.