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The second British MtF to receive 'sex-change' surgery. She lived a chaotic life of peaks and troughs including the disgraceful divorce case where the establishment, including the leading UK gender psychiatrist almost destroyed her. She will be remembered as a beautiful and charismatic woman who campaigned for transgender rights and was awarded an MBE. May she rest in peace.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/28/april-ashley...
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Julia Grant
Julia Grant has also died this morning (Wednesday). She was 64.
She was followed by cameras in the 'Change of Sex' Documentary. Last one was in 1999.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/03/transgender-activist-julia-grant-dies-aged-64
that
Appears to have been in 2019?
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Yes, i remember that from a
Yes, i remember that from a coupla years ago :(
Blast, you are correct. I
Blast, you are correct. I still do not look at the dates it was posted. (Who does). :(
you will live forever in my
you will live forever in my heart, April. Rest in peace now :(
April was such a brave soul.
We all owe April an enormous debt. Her Book 'April Ashley's Odyssey' is well worth reading. For she was brutally treated by a cruel, hidebound establishment led by the judiciary, psychiatric medicine and finally the media, always the bloody media!
I only met her once. A brief glance across a crowded hall in Walton Hospital oh so many, many years ago.
Farewell my idol.
Thank you
I met April Ashley many years ago at the start of my own transition I could not have made a better friend she always gave me the advice and help I needed wether in person when we would meet up or at the end of the phone I will miss you with all my heart April rest in peace my dear friend xxx
Impact on UK Law
Very interesting article and link to book about the impact her divorce had for year to come
link
Life is a Challenge
There is no reason for others to be offended when another person's life doesn't affect them. Yet as uncivilized as it may be, masses raise up in protest against things they don't have any understanding of. Why? One of the many reasons is they were told it is un natural. Another reason they may use comes from the man made club, religion. They are led to believe it is an abomination, against God's wishes. They wouldn't know God's wishes even if Jesus explained it to them. Human ignorance is a scary thing, easily led by others.
April and I texted a few times as I was trying to come to terms with myself and what was a possible future for those like us. She was sweet enough and kind enough to share a little of her thoughts with a total stranger. If such a beautiful woman as her still attracted the haters, what chance did the rest of us have?
To all you who are like me and so many others, my advice is to live your life. God gave us a double blessing of boy-girl. Try and leave the world a better place than when you came in. There is a saying that fits us. I'm not going to quote it but the gist is.
Change what you can to live your own life the best way you know how. Accept the things you can't change. Give others the same respect you wish for yourself even if you don't agree or they don't deserve it. Understand Government is not an entity and has nothing until they take it from someone else. If laws are passed giving us special rights, others had to give up their rights for us. It's the balance of life. No one can take from us what we aren't willing to give, unless it's our life. If someone wants to claim things were stolen and they didn't willingly give them away. It wasn't yours or mine in the first place. We are shepherds or caretakers of what we have. We aren't taking anything material with us in the end.
April, thank you for the courageous path you took when there was no path. You and so many others gave hope and a life to us who were struggling with our own. May God bless you in abundance.
always
Barbie Jean Lee
Life is meant to be lived, not worn until it's worn out.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
I remember the first time I saw a photo of her.
It was in a Sunday paper (The People?) way back in the late 50s when I was a teenager. It didn't name her and just made the point that the two beautiful women depicted were, in fact, male. I suspect it was in her time as a performer at la Carrousel night club in Paris when Coccinelle and Bambi were there. Later there was a serialised feature in another Sunday (News of the World, perhaps) which described her life story and transition. Needless to say I was totally overwhelmed as I thought I was the only person in the world fascinated and affected by such alien thoughts. It certainly helped me. Remember, no internet in those days!
I eventually realised I was not actually TG but merely confused - as I remain - but she was a great help to me without ever knowing I existed. RIP April.
R
Reading about her was eye opening
I was unaware of her until one day I out delivering newspapers and she was splashed all over the front page. That must have been 1966 or a bit after. Before then, I didn't know why I liked dressing up but I just did. Still do love it.
Samantha