The average 70 year old American in flyover country never heard of Christine Jorgenson or Rene Richards or sex “reassignment” surgery in the 1950s, ‘60s, or 70s.
That’s probably because such stories, despite being out there, were barely a blip even on the mainstream media’s radar.
Bruce Jenner’s coming out was made into a high profile, national media event that put transsexuals on EVERYBODY’S radar.
Nobody was talking about “trans children” or “puberty blockers” until after Bruce Jenner “transitioned.”
Bruce was a cross dresser in private, but just had to come out as Trans.
Changing ones sex was never talked about back in the 50’s to 70’s if at all.