Transgender Representation in 1952

I found this from a Tumblr post (surprise, surprise) and came here to share it right away. The image below is from a newspaper article from 1952 about one of the first patients of a gender-affirming surgery. 

Photo Credit: Cryingalonewithfrankenstein 

The first thing I noticed was how incredibly positive this article is! They use her correct pronouns and have nothing negative to say about her transition. Even if some bits would be considered politically uncorrect now, I think this article is more trans-positive than almost anything I read these days.

The original poster also included this translation of what the text in the image says:

George W. Jorgensen, Jr., son of a Bronx carpenter, served in the Army for two years and was given honorable discharge in 1946. Now George is no more. After six operations, Jorgensen’s sex has been changed and today she is a striking woman, working as a photographer in Denmark. Parents were informed of the big change in a letter Christine (that’s her new name) sent to them recently.

How cool is this?!?!

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Gender-Affirming Surgery: Surgeries which change the makeup and physical appearance of someone's body to relieve gender dysphoria.

Transition: Typically thought of as the time someone stops identifying with the sex they were assigned at birth and starts identifying with their gender identity; may or may not include hormones, surgeries, etc; Can mean something different to every transgender person

Trans: Short for transgender; Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

"Don't Dismiss Me for Being Genderqueer"

The following is a recap from an AWESOME article by Micah from the Huffington Post. The article's title "Don't Dismiss Me for Being Genderqueer" pretty much explains exactly what it's about - being genderqueer.

 Specifically, Micah used this article to address the myths, mistreatment, and common misconceptions that surround those who identify as genderqueer. 

(Such as the oh-so-tiring options in the image below)

Not hard to win a Bingo with this game, thanks to the frequent discrimination on nonbinary gender identities!

Photo Credit: Hormonaltransrex

Micah really hit the nail on the head hard with this article. Especially when they pointed out that discrimination towards those who identify as genderqueer or anywhere else under the Non-Binary label face not only from those outside the LGBTQA+ community, but from those IN it too:

"Doctors tell them they aren't trans enough to transition. Family tells them they aren't trans enough to call them by a different pronoun. Trans brothers and sisters tell them they aren't trans enough to warrant support, services, acknowledgement, a community of solidarity within the transgender umbrella. 

Genderqueer people are transgender. Genderqueer people experience discrimination, rejection, violence. Genderqueer people are not playing dress up."

Well put, Micah!

Click here to read the full article

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Genderqueer: Someone who does not identify with a single, exclusively masculine or feminine gender identity.

Non-Binary: Any gender identity that is not specifically male or female

LGBTQA+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual, +

Transition: The process of transitioning to better fit your gender identity instead of your biological sex

Trans: Short for transgender; Someone whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex