I heard about Christine Jorgensen in the 1950s so I knew surgery was possible. Researching her case gave me a lot of information on what I needed to do but surgery was extremely rare. The first documented surgery in literature  was 1930 but I believe the woman died. (Lily someone?) When I was a teen (1960s) the only surgery was being done in Belgium and Morocco but the price was incredible - about the annual income of a professional. In the mid-60s, Johns Hopkins performed a few surgeries but I couldn't figure out how to get referred there, my parents did not support me, and I had no money. I was diagnosed by Dr. Benjamin in New York in 1967 but it was not until Stanley Biber started performing surgery in Colorado in the early 1970s that SRS became a possibility and, thanks to Dr. Biber's generosity, it became reality for me in 1974.

Christine Jorgensen was actually treated quite well by the media of the day but I think transsexualism was (in the early days) more accepted because those who had surgery were very obviously feminine and it was easier for the public to understand the "gender discrepancy". Even when I met with Dr. Biber in 1974, the interview was more like an audition than an examination. If the doctor did not feel you could integrate and live 'stealth', they would not perform surgery.

The press has always been a problem! I married in 1976 and about a year later some reporter managed to dig up my past and it made the newspaper - how or why I do not know! Fortunately I was about to move anyway and the story did not follow me. My then-Ex was none to happy LOL!

After all these years, I feel a bit like one of the last survivors of an ancient war! 

Quote from: Cindy on July 13, 2015, 10:05:37 AM
Sorry Paige I think we had two old ladies reminiscing. Well one old lady and I kept her company, as youngsters do.

<I shall go and hide!>

Hi Cindy,

Please don't.  I always find it interesting to know what it was like back then and how things progressed.  Perhaps it's because I was too afraid and these stories sort of give me an idea of what it would have been like if I had taken the plunge back then.  I guess in some way they validate my opinion at the time that it would be very hard.  I'm just amazed at the courage people had back then and even today.  I wish I had a little.

Thanks,
Paige

Interesting BBC online article from 2012: "Christine Jorgensen: 60 years of sex change ops." (not an ideal choice of tagline, but that`s how transition and GRS was known back then!).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20544095

My deepest respect to the pioneers like  Joanne Keatley and others on this site. With out your strength, determination and perseverance we would not enjoy the medical. social and political landscape we do today knowing it is far from perfect but light years ahead of where it would be with out your efforts and fortitude.

Absolutely amazing and awe inspiring the journey of the pioneers in this and any other earlier ground breaking  movements really!!!

Quote from: Cindy on July 13, 2015, 10:05:37 AM
Sorry Paige I think we had two old ladies reminiscing. Well one old lady and I kept her company, as youngsters do.

<I shall go and hide!>

Quite right too!  I mean one can go off people you know...

Well not quite 40 years ago for me. Although it was probably nearer 50 years ago that I first got treated by a doctor in Harley Street at aged 16 by my parents to electro convulsive therapy to cure me of my "dirty thoughts"" of wanting to wear women's clothes. I was a DES baby.  Of course that never worked, I just knew I had to bury those feelings deep in my psyche if I was ever to survive. By, the time I was in my late 20's and early 30's I knew I was TS and managed to get into Charing Cross GIC under Dr John Randall but was told then that  I had to do full time RLE to qualify for HRT. This was early 1980's. John Randall though said if I saw him privately and not through Charing Cross he might be able to see me more often. I thus became a private patient and after 4  sessions with him was authorised for HRT.  I then saw him dressed as a woman every couple of months. By 1986 I came out to my wife that I was TS, we separated  and soon after was sent to Australia on a business trip. There I continued on a more aggressive HRT program (injections rather than pills) and on returning to the UK 9 months later, decided to transition to full time when I was made redundant. It was very hard in 1986, although John Randall was by then very supportive of me. But I was terrified by possible exposure in the press. Ultimately I was outed at work after being full time for just under a year and lost my job as a Secretary for one of the UK Building societies then  lived with a couple for another year in a poly relationship, before getting headhunted for a job (as my male self) back in Australia, so I emigrated. 1.5 years later after living a double life (working as a male, living as a woman and on continuous HRT), I de-transitioned.
Yes it was very tough in the 70s and 80's in the UK. Now 30 years later it is so much easier and much more accepting.

Thanks to everyone who paved the way! As a young trans child in the 1960s, I couldn't have imagined it would ever be possible to live the life I am now living as who I am!

I take one step after another on my journey, with hope that life will be easier for those who follow!

Shana

Quote from: judithlynn on July 13, 2015, 09:09:21 PM
Well not quite 40 years ago for me. Although it was probably nearer 50 years ago that I first got treated by a doctor in Harley Street at aged 16 by my parents to electro convulsive therapy to cure me of my "dirty thoughts"" of wanting to wear women's clothes. I was a DES baby.  Of course that never worked, I just knew I had to bury those feelings deep in my psyche if I was ever to survive. By, the time I was in my late 20's and early 30's I knew I was TS and managed to get into Charing Cross GIC under Dr John Randall but was told then that  I had to do full time RLE to qualify for HRT. This was early 1980's. John Randall though said if I saw him privately and not through Charing Cross he might be able to see me more often. I thus became a private patient and after 4  sessions with him was authorised for HRT.  I then saw him dressed as a woman every couple of months. By 1986 I came out to my wife that I was TS, we separated  and soon after was sent to Australia on a business trip. There I continued on a more aggressive HRT program (injections rather than pills) and on returning to the UK 9 months later, decided to transition to full time when I was made redundant. It was very hard in 1986, although John Randall was by then very supportive of me. But I was terrified by possible exposure in the press. Ultimately I was outed at work after being full time for just under a year and lost my job as a Secretary for one of the UK Building societies then  lived with a couple for another year in a poly relationship, before getting headhunted for a job (as my male self) back in Australia, so I emigrated. 1.5 years later after living a double life (working as a male, living as a woman and on continuous HRT), I de-transitioned.
Yes it was very tough in the 70s and 80's in the UK. Now 30 years later it is so much easier and much more accepting.

Judith your memory must be playing tricks with dates because John was dead by 1986 - he died in 1982 - and was replaced by the man who is probably my best friend in the world Russell Ried. Not doubting you saw Randall by the way, just I think you may be getting the dates slightly wrong.

I was John's patient too, in 1976 and its fair to say we didnt get on at all - in fact I told him he was crazier than I was.

I subsequently took matters into my own hands and by various means bypassed the system entirely. Although I never officially saw Russell as a patient (just as well given the nature of our subsequent lifelong friendship) I think he felt sorry for me because he did informally introduce me to the man who privately did my surgery on the quiet... He was the man who subsequently took over from Peter Philip at CXH. So I got there despite it all.

I was done in a highly irregular manner, with no paperwork of any sort, which very nearly bit my arse when I came to use the GRA in 2004 to become one of the 1st 100 people in the UK with a new birth cerificate.

You are absolutely right, it was John Randall that I think I met with my parents in Harley Street that put me through all that aggro and it was Russel Reid that I met privately. In fact I remember now that John Randall told me that I would never have the features to convince anyone that I was a woman and that I should "man up". I ended up all those years before joining the British Army and going to Sandhurst, even working with the Parachute Regiment.

As I get older my memory has been going.
Judith