Christine Jorgensen

Christine Jorgensen
Jorgensen in 1954
Born(1926-05-30)May 30, 1926
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 3, 1989(1989-05-03) (aged 62)
San Clemente, California, U.S.
EducationMohawk Valley Community College, The Progressive School of Photography, Manhattan Medical and Dental Assistant School
Occupation(s)Actress, night club singer, recording artist
Known forPioneering gender reassignment
Signature

Christine Jorgensen (/ˈdʒɔːrɡənsən/; May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989), was an American actress, singer and transgender activist. She was a trans woman. She was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery.

Sex change surgery

In 1944, Jorgensen was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, she taught some classes and wanted to start a photography career. During this time, she learned about sex reassignment surgery and traveled to Europe, where in Copenhagen, Denmark, she got special permission to have the surgery in 1951. Her parents were supportive of the surgery.

In 1959 she announced her engagement to typist Howard J. Knox in Massapequa Park, New York. However, the couple were unable to get a marriage license, because Jorgensen's birth certificate had her as male. In a report about the broken engagement, The New York Times reported that Knox had lost his job in Washington, D.C. when his engagement to Jorgensen became known.

Her 1967 autobiography Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography sold almost 450,000 copies. Throughout her career, she gave lectures at colleges and universities about transexuality.

Death

Jorgensen died of bladder and lung cancer on May 3, 1989 in San Clemente, California at the age of 62.

References

  1. ↑ Docter 2013, p. 57.
  2. ↑ Docter 2013, p. 59.
  3. ↑ Docter 2013, p. 67.
  4. ↑ Hartley-Kong, Alli (2022-06-22). "LGBTQ+ History: Christine Jorgensen's Life of Fame and Femininity | Minerva's Kaleidoscope". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  5. ↑ Jorgensen, Christine (1968). Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography. New York: Bantam. p. 8. OCLC 1023834324.
  6. ↑ Jorgensen 1967, p. 8
  7. ↑ Ingrassia, Michelle (May 5, 1989). "Transsexual Superstar: In 1952, She Was a Scandal: When Jorgensen decided to change his name—and his body—the nation wasn't quite ready". Newsday. p. A2 A3.
  8. ↑ Behrens, Thorkild (May 1952). "What made Christine Jorgensen do it?". Scope Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 4. pp. 19–20.
  9. ↑ Boomer, Lee. "Life Story: Christine Jorgensen". Women & the American Story. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  10. ↑ Bullough, Vern L. "Jorgensen, Christine (30 May 1926 – 3 May 1989)". Archived from the original on February 22, 2009.
  11. ↑ Christine Jorgensen - Hour Magazine, July 26, 2010, retrieved 2023-09-12
  12. ↑ Jorgensen, Christine (2000). Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography. Cleis Press. ISBN 978-1-57344-100-1.
  13. ↑ "Bars Marriage Permit: Clerk Rejects Proof of Sex from Christine Jorgensen". The New York Times. April 4, 1959.
  14. ↑ Myers, Donald P. "A Changed Man – Medical Specialization". New York. Newsday. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Christine Jorgensen Has No Regrets". Daily Gleaner. December 21, 1985. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Wilson, Scott (September 5, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland & Company, Inc. 2 (Kindle Locations 24299-24300). ISBN 978-0-7864-5098-5.

Other websites

Media related to Christine Jorgensen at Wikimedia Commons