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Christine Jorgensen

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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,[1] The Progressive School of Photography,[2] Manhattan Medical and Dental Assistant School[3]
Occupation(s)Actress, night club singer, recording artist
Known forPioneering gender reassignment
Signature

Christine Jorgensen (/ˈdʒɔːrɡənsən/; May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989),[4] 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.[5][6][7]

Sex change surgery

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In 1944, Jorgensen was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II.[8] After the war, she taught some classes and wanted to start a photography career.[9] 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.[10] Her parents were supportive of the surgery.[11]

In 1959 she announced her engagement to typist Howard J. Knox in Massapequa Park, New York.[12] 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.[13][14]

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.[15]

Death

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Jorgensen died of bladder and lung cancer on May 3, 1989 in San Clemente, California at the age of 62.[16]

References

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  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

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Media related to Christine Jorgensen at Wikimedia Commons

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