May 30, 2020
Happy Birthday Christine Jorgensen, America's first widely-known trans person
Today we honor actress Christine Jorgensen on her birthday. After serving in the US Army, Christine made a series of trips to Copenhagen in the early 1950s to undergo gender-affirming surgery. On December 1, 1952, when the New York Daily News announced with the front-page headline, "Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty," Christine became America's first widely-known trans person.
While Christine faced backlash and discrimination, she used her fame to encourage increased trans visibility and to push medical professionals into discussions about gender, sex, and sexuality. Speaking to the media, she acknowledged the milestone her case represented and said, "We didn't start the sexual revolution but I think we gave it a good kick in the pants!"
📸 @lgbt_history
While Christine faced backlash and discrimination, she used her fame to encourage increased trans visibility and to push medical professionals into discussions about gender, sex, and sexuality. Speaking to the media, she acknowledged the milestone her case represented and said, "We didn't start the sexual revolution but I think we gave it a good kick in the pants!"
📸 @lgbt_history