The Fable of Iphis and Ianthe

In Ovid's Metamorphoses Iphis is born a girl to Telethusa and Ligdus in Crete. Ligdus cruelly declares that a daughter is more trouble than she is worth and that if his wife bears a daughter he will kill the baby. Telethusa births a daughter, Iphis, and disguises her sex. Iphis is a gender neutral name, and she is raised as a boy, unbeknownst to Ligdus. At the age of 13 Iphis is betrothed to Ianthe. Iphis falls in love with Ianthe, but knows that if she is exposed to be a woman she will not be able to be with Ianthe, and worse will be killed. The goddess Isis appeared in a dream to Telethusa at Iphis' birth, so Telethusa and Iphis pray to Isis for assistance. Isis transforms Iphis into a young man. This is one of the earliest mythological works that has a mention of lesbian love, and transgender themes.

Dryden, J. (1913). The poems of John Dryden. London: Oxford University Press.