Transgender pioneer April Ashley given MBE

[Shana A]

Transgender pioneer April Ashley given MBE
Actress and model April Ashley was honored by Queen Elizabeth II for services to transgender equality
16 June 2012 | By Joe Morgan

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/transgender-pioneer-april-ashley-given-mbe160612

Actress and transgender pioneer April Ashley was given a MBE for services to equality in the Queen's Birthday Honors list today (16 June).

Ashley, 77, was the first British person to have gender reassignment surgery in 1960, and since has dedicated her life to transgender equality.

She was given a MBE, or Member of the British Empire, as part of the annual Queen's Birthday Honors list.

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Cabin boy who became first Briton to have a sex change operation is awarded an MBE for services to transgender equality

By Michael Seamark and Nick Mcdermott

PUBLISHED: 18:06 EST, 15 June 2012 | UPDATED: 07:28 EST, 16 June 2012

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160090/April-Ashley-MBE-First-Briton-sex-change-awarded-services-transgender-equality.html

Born plain George Jamieson, he became the first Briton to have a sex change and sparked countless lurid headlines.

But today actress and campaigner Miss April Ashley is appointed an MBE for services to transgender equality.

The award marks the latest chapter in the sensational life of the 77-year-old, a veteran of numerous sex scandals.

[Shana A]

    By Mirror.co.uk
    17 Jun 2012 00:00

'The night I slept with INXS star Michael Hutchence': Sex change MBE recipient April Ashley reveals all

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-slept-with-inxs-star-michael-887790

April Ashley, honoured "for services to ­transgender equality", met the late INXS frontman at a Sydney hotel while ­promoting a book.

April, 77, said: "He came in with about 15 people. He was very young... the most incredibly ­handsome man I had ever seen. He had a marvellous head of hair and just very sweet.

"He came over and said, 'Would you like a drink?' I said 'Yes.' I hadn't the ­foggiest idea who he was.

"It was rather nice ­because he said, 'Would you like to come up to my room and have a bottle of ­champagne?' We made love and very nice it was too."

A friend told her who he was, but April said: "Having known the Beatles, The Who, the Rolling Stones and the whole caboodle, I was never really ­interested in any of that.

[pretty pauline]

A very well deserved award to April Ashley, she has been a great inspiration to me and to so many others. She has always shown great beauty and style, a very elegant lady, still looking very beautiful at 77, I hope I look as good if I reach that age.