There were plenty. And they were even more unspoken. That is why you think there weren't.

Trans people not only existed, they were margined. In literature they appear in roles as prostitutes and similar things. Example: Lulu's ages.

The fact that you didn't had to worry about hurting other's feeling doesn't meaned that you didn't hurt their feelings, it meant that the expectation was that they remained quiet and pretended everything was fine for your sake. It is the clasical "smile! you¡ll look prettier!". Which, by the way, also was expected from women, LGTBI and people of color.