GLBT History Month: Christine Jorgensen

[Behind the Aegis]

Christine Jorgensen (May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989) was the first widely known person to have sex reassignment surgery—in this case, male to female.

Returning to New York after military service and increasingly concerned over (as one obituary called it) her "lack of male physical development",<3> Jorgensen heard about the possibility of sex reassignment surgery, and began taking the female hormone ethinyl estradiol on her own. She researched the subject with the help of Dr. Joseph Angelo, a husband of one of Jorgensen's classmates at the Manhattan Medical and Dental Assistant School.<3> Jorgensen intended to go to Sweden, where the only doctors in the world performing this type of surgery at the time were to be found. At a stopover in Copenhagen to visit relatives, however, Jorgensen met Dr. Christian Hamburger, a Danish endocrinologist and specialist in rehabilitative hormonal therapy. Jorgensen ended up staying in Denmark, and under Dr. Hamburger's direction, was allowed to begin hormone replacement therapy, eventually undergoing a series of surgeries.

According to an obituary, "With special permission from the Danish Minister of Justice, Jorgensen had his testicles removed first and his still-undeveloped penis a year later. Several years later Jorgensen obtained a vaginoplasty, when the procedure became available in the U.S., under the direction of Dr. Angelo and a medical advisor Harry Benjamin.<3>

Jorgensen chose the name Christine in honor of Dr. Hamburger. She became a spokesperson for transsexual and transgender people.

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See also: October is GLBT History Month, The Mattachine Society, Lawrence v. Texas, The Stonewall Riots, & GLBT symbols.

[livetohike]

1. Christine spoke at my school when I was a Junior in college

(1973). There was standing room only in the auditorium. I really can't remember all she said, but it was impressive that she came to my small, state owned university.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. No fucking way?!

How cool! Did you actually meet her? Can you remember anything? I am sorry for the questions, but I have never encountered anyone who had any type of 'contact' with her.

[livetohike]

6. No, I didn't get to meet her and I was about as far away

from the stage as one could get :-(. I remember that she had a good sense of humor and that the audience laughed quite a bit. One thing that stayed with me was that she said that none of us are 100% male or 100% female. There was a Q&A with the audience, but no meet and greet deal. I wish I could remember more.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Thanks so much. That was nice to hear.

You are very fortunate.-1!!

[lunatica]

2. I remember her as being quite popular.

Or maybe it was my liberal surroundings. She was cool. She worked hard to awaken people to Transexual and Transgender people. She busted down that door in total style.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Did you meet her 2?

[DURHAM D]

3. I have an employee who is 29 and a Tranny (her preferred term).

About three years ago I mentioned Christine to her. She had never heard of her. I asked her about Renee Richards - she had never heard of her either. My friend found copies and read both of their books.

Her comment back to me - "Its good to know old people - you help out with history".

Thanks for posting.

[racaulk]

5. K&R!