April Ashley RIP

[stickygirl]

I'm no LGBT historian but I remember reading about April Ashley MBE, who had a successful modelling career after GRS until she was outed in the UK by newspaper 1961. Several years later her marriage was declared invalid when she tried to settle her divorce. Her career life and career ruined, she moved to the US until in 2005 when the Gender Recognition Act meant she was acknowledged for her true self and she was able to return the the UK.

She died on 28th Dec, aged 86
Guardian article

 

[stickygirl]

I think yes and no wrt tolerance. In the article it says she was able to obtain a new passport to match her gender and to do that now is a ball ache. She was such a rarity and mixed in celebrity circles so she was off the radar until some cunt at the Sunday People snuffled out her forgotten past. Fucking media.

But you're right - she must have been brave. There was no support on offer beyond her own friends when she decided to undergo surgery. I'm no historian but GRS in Casa Blanca - hardly a place I'd associate with medical expertise!