Transgender - Culture
There are many notable transgender individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. There are many notable transgender individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including arts, entertainment, politics, and activism.
World War II veteran Christine Jorgensen became the first American transgender woman to attain fame for having sex reassignment surgery. Her story influenced many others and helped redefine gender identity. In high school, she knew she was not gay. Instead, she realized that she was a woman trapped inside a man’s body. in Denmark, she met endocrinologist Dr. Christian Hamburger, who agreed to do the experimental procedure for free. He was the first person to diagnose Jorgensen as transsexual and not homosexual. For the next two years, Jorgensen underwent hormone treatment, psychiatric evaluations, and finally surgery.
The Life magazines article “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty” celebrated her heroism during the war and embraced her feminine qualities, such as her hair and fashionable clothes. Interestingly, the article was published in 1952, a time when gay and lesbian WWII veterans were often stripped of their medals and fired from their jobs because of who they loved.
One of the stars of "Plan 9 from Outer Space" - John “Bunny” Breckinridge - was a drag star socialite descendant of a vice president. One great-grandfather was the 14th Vice President, John C. Breckinridge, who later became a senator and was expelled after he joined the confederacy, ultimately becoming the Confederate Secretary of War. Breckinridge was an eccentric and troubled San Francisco millionaire who entertained grandly, served time in jail for vagrancy and was sued by his mother for lack of support.
In 1954, Breckinridge gained some press for announcing his plans to complete transition surgery and then marry his male secretary. Legal issues prevented his trip. Breckinridge abandoned surgery attempts after a car accident. This part of his life led to his name being the inspiration for Gore Vidal’s Myra Breckinridge. In 1959, he was convicted on 10 counts of sex perversion for taking to Las Vegas two young boys who had been left in his care.
Myra Breckinridge is a fictional character who first appeared in Gore Vidal's 1968 novel titled "Myra Breckinridge." Studs Terkel introduced Gore Vidal as " one of the most sparkling and wittiest of observers of the social scene, playwright, as well as, as well as novelist, commentator..."
The novel is a satirical exploration of gender roles, sexuality, and popular culture in the United States. Myra Breckinridge is a transsexual woman who undergoes gender reassignment surgery in order to become a woman. She is a highly intelligent and manipulative character who seeks to challenge traditional gender norms and dismantle the patriarchy. Throughout the novel, Myra uses her newfound femininity as a means of asserting power over men and navigating the entertainment industry in Hollywood.
"Myra Breckinridge" was a controversial and groundbreaking novel for its time, as it delved into themes of gender identity and sexuality that were considered taboo in mainstream literature. It was adapted into a film in 1970, starring Raquel Welch as Myra Breckinridge. Myron Breckinridge (Rex Reed) flies to Europe to get a sex-change operation and is transformed into the beautiful Myra (Raquel Welch). TV Guide called the movie a "Raunchy adaptation of the Gore Vidal novel about a transsexual's vendetta against American manhood." Movie critics Larry Karaszewski concluded "Any movie that begins with John Carradine slicing off Rex Reed’s penis can’t be all bad… but this legendary disaster comes pretty close. One of the most bizarre major studio pictures ever." Gore Vidal disowned the adaptation of his novel.
It's important to note that the novel and its portrayal of transgender characters have received criticism for reinforcing stereotypes and presenting a sensationalized view of transgender individuals. The character of Myra Breckinridge has been discussed in the context of transgender representation in media and the complexities surrounding trans narratives. One trans reviewer wrote "Transgender persons are not only thrown under the bus in these works, but the bus reverses and backs over us a few more times for good measure."
Renee Richards joined the women’s professional tour after living the first 34 years of her life as a man. Richards, captain of the Yale tennis team as a man, was denied the right to play in the 1976 U.S. Open at age 42 after transitioning the year before. A 6-foot-2 left-hander, Richards played four years on the tour and in grand slams, reaching No. 19 in the world.
Caitlyn Marie Jenner (born William Bruce Jenner; October 28, 1949) is an American media personality and former Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete. One of the most well-known athletes in the 1970s, Jenner originally played football but switched to track and field due to an injury. After placing 10th at the Olympic Games Munich 1972, Jenner returned four years later to win gold in world-record fashion. Jenner remained in the public spotlight after the conclusion of the Olympian's athletic career, appearing on the cover of the Wheaties cereal box, working as a motivational speaker, writing several book and making guest appearances on televisions shows. Most notably, Jenner has been featured on the reality series, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”
In 2015, Jenner came out publicly as a transgender woman. Later that year, she accepted the 2015 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards. Olympian Bruce Jenner’s decided to transition to a woman. Jenner, then 65, was once considered the world’s greatest athlete after winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Jenner’s transition would make him the most high-profile American to come out as transgender, a boon to the community’s increasingly visible fight for equality and acceptance.
From 2015 to 2016, she starred in the reality television series I Am Cait, which focused on her gender transition. She has been called the most famous transgender woman in the world. Jenner is a transgender rights activist, although her views on transgender issues have been criticized by many other trans and LGBTQ+ activists.
Laverne Cox is an American actress and activist known for her role as Sophia Burset in the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black." She is an outspoken advocate for transgender rights and has been influential in raising awareness and promoting acceptance of transgender individuals. Janet Mock is an American writer, television host, and transgender rights activist. She has authored books such as "Redefining Realness" and "Surpassing Certainty," sharing her experiences as a transgender woman and advocating for transgender rights and inclusivity.
Chaz Bono is an American writer, musician, and transgender activist. He is the son of entertainers Sonny and Cher. Chaz publicly came out as transgender in 2009 and has been an advocate for transgender rights and visibility. Andreja Pejic is a Serbian-born Australian model who gained international recognition for her androgynous appearance. She came out as transgender in 2014 and has since been a prominent figure in the fashion industry, breaking barriers for transgender models.
Chelsea Manning is a former United States Army intelligence analyst who gained widespread attention in 2010 when she leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks. Born on December 17, 1987, as Bradley Manning, she later came out as transgender and changed her name to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning.
In 2010, while serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, Manning leaked hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, including the Iraq War Logs and the Afghan War Diary. These leaks exposed information about civilian casualties, human rights abuses, and other sensitive military and diplomatic information. Manning's actions sparked a significant controversy and led to a worldwide debate on government transparency, whistleblowing, and the role of the media.
In 2013, Manning was convicted under the Espionage Act and other charges and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. However, in 2017, her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, and she was released from military prison after serving seven years.
Since her release, Manning has been involved in various activism and speaking engagements, advocating for government transparency, civil liberties, and transgender rights. She has been an outspoken critic of government surveillance, military interventionism, and the treatment of whistleblowers.
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