Wed Jun 20, 2012 at 02:00 PM PDT
April Ashley, MBE
by rserven
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/20/1101700/-April-Ashley-MBEApril Ashley has followed a long and winding road to where she is now. The 77 year-old Fullham (southwest London) woman was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth last Friday as part of the Queen's Birthday Honors. An MBE is a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an order of chivalry established in 1917 by George V. MBE is the lowest rank in this order of chivalry.
She was born in April, 1935 near the Liverpool docks. Her father was a Navy cook and her mother worked in a bomb factory. She was often beaten by her mother for being a bed-wetter and her father was a heavy drinker who often flirted with other men.
Sensing she was different from other children growing up with the name of George, she tried to develop some masculinity by joining the Merchant Navy at the age of 15. That proved to be a failure. She attempted suicide before the age of 18 and was subjected to electro-convulsive therapy for being effeminate.
