News and Events => Role Models => Topic started by: Anne_lifetrip on June 30, 2026, 05:18:36 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: Anne_lifetrip on June 30, 2026, 05:18:36 AM
Post by: Anne_lifetrip on June 30, 2026, 05:18:36 AM
Hello girls, so I wanted to start this post as a tribute to all those corageous transwomen that have come before us or that are currently amongst us.
My idea is to show the impact of transwomen on society and the presence of transwomen in our history. Both with the fights for rights as well as achieving great goals for society in their respective áreas of work while fighting for their respective places as professionals, which might not have been easy for them.
As there are many, it would be nice to name those that have a public profile.
The idea would be to name them and add some key remarks on her achievements.
It will be nice to put information links if there are any so that if anyone wants to increase the information on them, there is somewhere to start looking.
I had my doubts on where to start the post, but as there may be political and advocacy women in our history. I believe this sub forum may be the best place.
I have to thank @Northern Star Girl for helping decide where to start this post, as I had my doubts.
So, here are the first, corageous transwomen in history (no order in particular), please feel free to keep on adding.
Lili Ilse Elvenes
Lili Elbe (born December 28, 1882, Vejle, Denmark—died September 13, 1931, Dresden, Germany) was a Danish painter who was assigned male at birth, experienced what is now called gender dysphoria, and underwent the world's first documented sex reassignment surgery
Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lili-Elbe
Christine Jorgensen
Christine Jorgensen (born May 30, 1926, New York, New York, U.S.—died May 3, 1989, San Clemente, California) was an American who garnered international headlines in the early 1950s as the first person in the United States to undergo a successful gender-reassignment operation.
In the early 1950s, she captured global attention as one of the first Americans to undergo gender confirmation surgery, becoming a symbol of courage, visibility and the fight for acceptance.
"She is the person who brought what we now call 'transgender' to the attention of a global audience.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christine-Jorgensen
https://people.com/who-is-christine-jorgensen-monster-11824719
More will be coming.
Hope you find it interesting.
Hugs, Anne 🌈
My idea is to show the impact of transwomen on society and the presence of transwomen in our history. Both with the fights for rights as well as achieving great goals for society in their respective áreas of work while fighting for their respective places as professionals, which might not have been easy for them.
As there are many, it would be nice to name those that have a public profile.
The idea would be to name them and add some key remarks on her achievements.
It will be nice to put information links if there are any so that if anyone wants to increase the information on them, there is somewhere to start looking.
I had my doubts on where to start the post, but as there may be political and advocacy women in our history. I believe this sub forum may be the best place.
I have to thank @Northern Star Girl for helping decide where to start this post, as I had my doubts.
So, here are the first, corageous transwomen in history (no order in particular), please feel free to keep on adding.
Lili Ilse Elvenes
Lili Elbe (born December 28, 1882, Vejle, Denmark—died September 13, 1931, Dresden, Germany) was a Danish painter who was assigned male at birth, experienced what is now called gender dysphoria, and underwent the world's first documented sex reassignment surgery
Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lili-Elbe
Christine Jorgensen
Christine Jorgensen (born May 30, 1926, New York, New York, U.S.—died May 3, 1989, San Clemente, California) was an American who garnered international headlines in the early 1950s as the first person in the United States to undergo a successful gender-reassignment operation.
In the early 1950s, she captured global attention as one of the first Americans to undergo gender confirmation surgery, becoming a symbol of courage, visibility and the fight for acceptance.
"She is the person who brought what we now call 'transgender' to the attention of a global audience.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christine-Jorgensen
https://people.com/who-is-christine-jorgensen-monster-11824719
More will be coming.
Hope you find it interesting.
Hugs, Anne 🌈
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: Maid Marion on June 30, 2026, 05:26:25 AM
Post by: Maid Marion on June 30, 2026, 05:26:25 AM
https://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/LynnsStory.html
This is the story of a woman who made amazing contributions to society,
in spite of intense ostracism and stigmatization just for trying to be herself,
and how she did it by taking on a secret new identity, and living her life in "stealth mode".
#
Lynn Conway is a famed pioneer of microelectronics chip design. Her innovations during the 1970's at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) have impacted chip design worldwide. Many high-tech companies and computing methods have foundations in her work.
This is the story of a woman who made amazing contributions to society,
in spite of intense ostracism and stigmatization just for trying to be herself,
and how she did it by taking on a secret new identity, and living her life in "stealth mode".
#
Lynn Conway is a famed pioneer of microelectronics chip design. Her innovations during the 1970's at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) have impacted chip design worldwide. Many high-tech companies and computing methods have foundations in her work.
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: Devlyn on June 30, 2026, 05:58:46 AM
Post by: Devlyn on June 30, 2026, 05:58:46 AM
I don't have any links or historical references, but a lot of my role models were and are the members on this site. Go, you beautiful and handsome people!
Hugs, Devlyn
Hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: Stottie Girl on June 30, 2026, 06:30:59 AM
Post by: Stottie Girl on June 30, 2026, 06:30:59 AM
Great topic Anna.
Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom (UK) - First openly transgender pilot in the RAF, flying Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopters.
Roberta Cowell - British Racing Driver and former RAF Pilot during the second world war. I believe the first british woman to undergo GRS. (only recently found out about her from someone on Susans)
Charlie Martin (UK) - Trans activist and racing driver
Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom (UK) - First openly transgender pilot in the RAF, flying Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopters.
Roberta Cowell - British Racing Driver and former RAF Pilot during the second world war. I believe the first british woman to undergo GRS. (only recently found out about her from someone on Susans)
Charlie Martin (UK) - Trans activist and racing driver
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: tgirlamg on June 30, 2026, 08:52:52 AM
Post by: tgirlamg on June 30, 2026, 08:52:52 AM
Quote from: Stottie Girl on Today at 06:30:59 AMGreat topic Anna.
Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom (UK) - First openly transgender pilot in the RAF, flying Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopters.
Roberta Cowell - British Racing Driver and former RAF Pilot during the second world war. I believe the first british woman to undergo GRS. (only recently found out about her from someone on Susans)
Charlie Martin (UK) - Trans activist and racing driver
I have a friend who flew Sea Kings in the Royal Navy pre-transition, during the Falklands War... when she had her GRS, they ran into a few small bits of fragments of her helicopter that they had left in place after she had been shot down!
Onward!
A💕
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: Northern Star Girl on June 30, 2026, 10:07:54 AM
Post by: Northern Star Girl on June 30, 2026, 10:07:54 AM
@Devlyn
Dear Devlyn:
I completely agree with you regarding role models - members on our very site.
My mind immediately zeros in on several members here that have greatly inspired me
in my own journey.
I will have more to add at a later time.
Danielle [Northern Star Gir]
The Forum Admin
Dear Devlyn:
I completely agree with you regarding role models - members on our very site.
My mind immediately zeros in on several members here that have greatly inspired me
in my own journey.
I will have more to add at a later time.
Danielle [Northern Star Gir]
The Forum Admin
Quote from: Devlyn on Today at 05:58:46 AMI don't have any links or historical references, but a lot of my role models were and are the members on this site. Go, you beautiful and handsome people!
Hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: Lori Dee on June 30, 2026, 12:28:57 PM
Post by: Lori Dee on June 30, 2026, 12:28:57 PM
Shortly after I moved in, my next-door neighbor bought me a book:
Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Marsha P. Johnson and Beyond, by Leslie Feinberg.
When I get time, I'll post some excerpts.
I suspect the book has been updated, as the title is slightly different on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Transgender-Warriors-Making-History-Dennis/dp/0807079413
Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Marsha P. Johnson and Beyond, by Leslie Feinberg.
When I get time, I'll post some excerpts.
I suspect the book has been updated, as the title is slightly different on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Transgender-Warriors-Making-History-Dennis/dp/0807079413
Title: Re: Transwoman Role models - Sisters in history
Post by: big kim on June 30, 2026, 02:01:28 PM
Post by: big kim on June 30, 2026, 02:01:28 PM
Agree on Roberta Cowell. In the school summer holidays in 1973 I watched a short film on her a couple of months before my 16th birthday.
April Ashley and Caroline Cossey aka Tula 2 of the most glamorous transwomen.
Julia Grant 1955_2019, from my hometown Fleetwood. Remember watching her documentary and reading her book. Met her once shortly before I went full time in 1991,kind helpful and very funny
April Ashley and Caroline Cossey aka Tula 2 of the most glamorous transwomen.
Julia Grant 1955_2019, from my hometown Fleetwood. Remember watching her documentary and reading her book. Met her once shortly before I went full time in 1991,kind helpful and very funny