Christine Jorgensen was a trailblazer for transgender people in the US. In 1952, she became one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery, becoming an instant celebrity in America upon her return to the country. She was a cornerstone of the LGBT movement, and still remains an important figure in trans history.
LGBTQ+
Josephine Baker – Experiment in Brotherhood
Josephine Baker dedicated herself to breaking barriers and tackling injustice. One of the most famous performers in Europe, she also worked as a civil rights activist and was a spy for the French Resistance during World War II, a task she accomplished with ease despite her great fame.
Marlene Dietrich – Breaking the Gender Barrier
Marlene Dietrich spent the majority of her life occupying the stage and screen, her career spanning from the 1910s to the 1980s. While her name is now often associated with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and high society, this only tells half the story.
Frida Kahlo – Painting Her Own Reality
Though her image is easily recognisable today, Frida Kahlo spent her lifetime in relative obscurity. Now an icon of the feminist, Chicano, and LGBT movements, many aspects of Kahlo's life are often overlooked, including her disability and bisexuality.
Marsha P. Johnson – The Shot Glass Heard around the World
Every June, LGBT Pride is celebrated all around the world thanks to the campaigning of the LGBT movement. But that movement owes its thanks to one woman - Marsha P. Johnson, who was instrumental in making Pride what it is today.