this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2026
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HistoryPhotos

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HistoryPhotos is for photographs (or, if it can be found, film) of the past, recent or distant! Give us a little snapshot of history!

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Christine Jorgensen, actress, singer, and trans activist, USA, 1963 (upload.wikimedia.org)
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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Jorgensen

Christine Jorgensen (/ˈdʒɔːrɡənsən/; May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989)[4] was an American actress, singer, and transgender activist. A trans woman, she was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery.

In 1944, Jorgensen was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II.[5] After she served as a military clerical worker, Jorgensen attended several schools, worked, and pursued a photography career.[6] During this time, she learned about sex reassignment surgery and traveled to Europe, where in Copenhagen, Denmark, she obtained special permission to undergo a series of operations beginning in 1951.

Upon her return to the United States in the early 1950s, her transition was the subject of a New York Daily News front-page story. She became an instant celebrity, known for her directness and polished wit, and used the platform to advocate for transgender people.

Her 1967 autobiography Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography sold almost 450,000 copies.[7]

Anyone saying "Back in my day" wasn't paying attention.

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

Humans have had varying levels of sexuality and sexual identity throughout all of history. It's our perceptions, religions, beliefs and ideas that have changed over time. Just because someone a thousand years ago came up with a religious idea or a social convention that says one thing is right and another is wrong, doesn't mean that it is morally correct, factually based or make any sense at all.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I mean.....I wasn't born yet.