Trans pioneer April Ashley receives MBE at palace
Actress and model honored by Queen Elizabeth II for services to transgender equality
13 December 2012 | By Matthew Jenkin
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/trans-pioneer-april-ashley-receives-mbe-palace131212Actress and model April Ashley honored by Queen Elizabeth II for services to transgender equality
Actress and transgender pioneer April Ashley was given a MBE for services to equality today (13 December).
Ashley received the honor at an investiture ceremony in Buckingham Palace this morning and was accompanied by her good friend, gay actor Simon Callow.
The 77-year-old was one of the first Britons to have gender reassignment surgery in 1960, and has since dedicated her life to transgender equality.
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13 December 2012 Last updated at 14:05 ET
April Ashley: MBE for transgender campaigner
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-20708017One of the first Britons to undergo sex-change surgery has received an MBE for services to transgender equality.
Liverpool-born actress and campaigner April Ashley was honoured during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Born George Jamieson in Liverpool in 1935, she underwent gender reassignment surgery in Morocco in 1960 and went on to have a successful modelling career.
Ms Ashley said she did not think she "was doing anything special, so to be suddenly awarded this is astonishing".
