CHRISTIAN BALDERAS HAS A LOOK AT THE COURAGEOUS LIFE OF CHARLIE PARKHURST. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT CHARLEY PARKHURST BEFORE...A WOMAN DISGUISED AS A MAN FOR FREEDOM OR FORTUNE... A LEGENDARY SANTA CRUZ STAGECOACH DRIVER DURING THE CALIFORNIA GOLDRUSH...A TREACHEROUS JOB FILLED WITH LONG TRAVEL, RATTLESNAKES AND BANDITS. AND áTHIS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTO OF THEM. <THERE ARE TONS OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON CHARLIE PARKHUR. I'M AT THE PAJAO VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WHERE THEY HAVE LOTS OF RECORDS BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FACTS MISSING, LEAVING A LOT UP FOR INTERPRETATION> AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED CHARLIE WAS BORN CHARLOTTE...THEIR STORY GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION AFTER THEY DIED IN 1879. AND IT LEAD TO THIS PLAQUE ON A SOQUEL FIRE STATION, WHERE CHARLIE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO VOTE IN A US PRIMARY...WHICH GENDER ASIDE IS DEBATED AMONG HISTORIANS. <I THINK PEOPLE OF ALL STRIPES HAVE APPRECIATED THIS LEGEND> THE STORY IS OFTEN TOLD THROUGH THE LENSE OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO STRUCK A CHORD AMONG THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY FOR IT'S GENDER NONCONFORMING THEME. <I THINK IT WAS JUST THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COURAGE AT A TIME THAT THAT WASN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STONE WALL INCIDENT OF 1970, CHARLIE PARKHURST WAS DOING THIS 100 YEARS BEFORE STONEWALL.> OVER 40 YEARS AGO, THE FIRST GAY AND LESBIAN DEMOCRATIC CLUB IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WAS NAMED AFTER PARKHURST AND MOST RECENTLY HE WAS SUBJECT OF A PRIDE EXHIBIT AT THE SANTA CRUZ MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY, CO-ORGANIZED BY ROB DARROW. <WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOCABULARY HOW YOU IDENTIFIED PEOPLE THEN, WE GOT VOCABULARY TODAY> OVER A CENTURY AFTER THEIR LIFE, CHARLIE'S NAME IS ENGRAVED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY...AND THEIR STORY RETOLD IN BOOKS IN CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARIES. <IT'S A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK STUDENTS AS WELL. IF CHARLIE LIVED TODAY, WOULD CHARLIE LIVE AS A TRANSGENDERED PERSON. WHAT PRONOUNS MIGHT CHARLIE USE? THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF HISTORY. THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF INQUIRY THAT ALL TEACHERS SHOULD BE USING THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
Legendary gold rush stagecoach driver blurred gender lines
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Updated: 9:16 PM CDT Jun 28, 2023
Over a century after their death, Charlie Parkhurst, a once legendary stagecoach driver in Santa Cruz County, California —who symbolized women's suffrage on the Central Coast — is also regarded as an important figure in LGBTQ+ history. In the midst of the California Gold Rush, Parkhurst was said to be the best whip in California — a dangerous job that required long travel across narrow mountain passes and rocky roads, sometimes met by dangerous wildlife and bandits. Parkhurst's story drew national attention immediately after their death in 1879, when it was discovered Charley was born Charlotte. Journalists from across the country tried to piece Parkhurst's life together, a mission taken up by historians up through today. "I think people of all stripes have appreciated this legend," California Sen. John Laird said. "I think it was just that there was a certain amount of courage at a time that that wasn't even thought of. If you look at the Stonewall incident of 1970, Charley Parkhurst was doing this 100 years before Stonewall," Laird said.The stagecoach driver's posthumous fame led to a plaque on a now Soquel fire station, naming Charley the first woman to have voted in a United States primary election — a title debated among historians, gender aside. The title is also on their headstone at the Pioneer Cemetery in Watsonville, California.To add, Parkhurst's name can be seen all over Santa Cruz County, in books, in libraries and on street signs and buildings. "We didn't have the vocabulary how you identified then. We got the vocabulary today," said Rob Darrow, a consultant on LGBTQ+ matters for the Santa Cruz Office of Education. Darrow also co-organized an LGBTQ+ exhibit that spotlighted Parkhurst at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History."It's debated among historians, but based on the research I've done, Charley would have used he and him pronouns. He lived his life as a man and, I believe, would identify as a man today. That is a trans story," Darrow said.At this point, Parkhurst's story is a tall tale, and different people will use different pronouns to describe them. "It's a good question to ask students as well. If Charley lived today, would Charley identify as a transgender person?" Darrow said. "What pronouns might Charley use? That's the beauty of history. That's the beauty of inquiry that all teachers should be using throughout the state."
Over a century after their death, Charlie Parkhurst, a once legendary stagecoach driver in Santa Cruz County, California —who symbolized women's suffrage on the Central Coast — is also regarded as an important figure in LGBTQ+ history.
In the midst of the California Gold Rush, Parkhurst was said to be the best whip in California — a dangerous job that required long travel across narrow mountain passes and rocky roads, sometimes met by dangerous wildlife and bandits.
Parkhurst's story drew national attention immediately after their death in 1879, when it was discovered Charley was born Charlotte.
Journalists from across the country tried to piece Parkhurst's life together, a mission taken up by historians up through today.
"I think people of all stripes have appreciated this legend," California Sen. John Laird said.
"I think it was just that there was a certain amount of courage at a time that that wasn't even thought of. If you look at the Stonewall incident of 1970, Charley Parkhurst was doing this 100 years before Stonewall," Laird said.
The stagecoach driver's posthumous fame led to a plaque on a now Soquel fire station, naming Charley the first woman to have voted in a United States primary election — a title debated among historians, gender aside.
The title is also on their headstone at the Pioneer Cemetery in Watsonville, California.
To add, Parkhurst's name can be seen all over Santa Cruz County, in books, in libraries and on street signs and buildings.
"We didn't have the vocabulary how you identified then. We got the vocabulary today," said Rob Darrow, a consultant on LGBTQ+ matters for the Santa Cruz Office of Education.
Darrow also co-organized an LGBTQ+ exhibit that spotlighted Parkhurst at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.
"It's debated among historians, but based on the research I've done, Charley would have used he and him pronouns. He lived his life as a man and, I believe, would identify as a man today. That is a trans story," Darrow said.
At this point, Parkhurst's story is a tall tale, and different people will use different pronouns to describe them.
"It's a good question to ask students as well. If Charley lived today, would Charley identify as a transgender person?" Darrow said. "What pronouns might Charley use? That's the beauty of history. That's the beauty of inquiry that all teachers should be using throughout the state."
