Difference between revisions of "Roberta Cowell"
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| − | '''Roberta Cowell''' ( | + | '''Roberta Cowell''' (1918–2011) was the first known British male-to-female transsexual to undergo [[sex reassignment surgery]].<ref><cite>Roberta Cowell, the First British Transsexual</cite>, Transgender Zone Media Archives. http://www.transgenderzone.com/features/roberta_cowell.htm</ref> |
| − | Born Robert Cowell, she was a Spitfire pilot in World War II and a racing driver after the war. She had a vaginoplasty in 1951, via a surgical method invented and performed by Dr Harold Gillies. This occurred two years before Christine Jorgensen's surgery in Denmark. Roberta Cowell's surgical transformation and friendship with the female-to-male transsexual [[Michael Dillon]], also operated on by the plastic surgeon Sir Harold Gillies, is documented in the book ''The First Man-Made Man'' by Pagan Kennedy <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/books/review/Roach.t.html?ex=1331784000&en=7d2bd0c4d7848926&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink</ref>. Roberta's life is described in her biography, <cite>Roberta Cowell's Story</cite>.<ref><cite>Roberta Cowell's Story</cite> by Roberta Cowell, Heinemann, 1954</ref> | + | Born Robert Cowell in [[Croydon]], she was a Spitfire pilot in World War II and a racing driver after the war. She had a vaginoplasty in 1951, via a surgical method invented and performed by Dr Harold Gillies. This occurred two years before Christine Jorgensen's surgery in Denmark. Roberta Cowell's surgical transformation and friendship with the female-to-male transsexual [[Michael Dillon]], also operated on by the plastic surgeon Sir Harold Gillies, is documented in the book ''The First Man-Made Man'' by Pagan Kennedy <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/books/review/Roach.t.html?ex=1331784000&en=7d2bd0c4d7848926&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink</ref>. Roberta's life is described in her biography, <cite>Roberta Cowell's Story</cite>.<ref><cite>Roberta Cowell's Story</cite> by Roberta Cowell, Heinemann, 1954</ref> |
Roberta was able to have her birth certificate changed, which later became impossible (following the [[Corbett v Corbett]] decision) until the recent [[Gender Recognition Act]]. She was thus technically in a same-sex marriage until her divorce. | Roberta was able to have her birth certificate changed, which later became impossible (following the [[Corbett v Corbett]] decision) until the recent [[Gender Recognition Act]]. She was thus technically in a same-sex marriage until her divorce. | ||
In 2010, [[Croydon Trans Group]] held a celebration of Roberta Cowell's life as part of LGBT History Month.<ref>A celebration of Roberta Cowell: http://www.croydontrans.org.uk/roberta.htm</ref> | In 2010, [[Croydon Trans Group]] held a celebration of Roberta Cowell's life as part of LGBT History Month.<ref>A celebration of Roberta Cowell: http://www.croydontrans.org.uk/roberta.htm</ref> | ||
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| + | Roberta Cowell died in October 2011, but this was known to few people, and was first reported two years later, in the ''Independent on Sunday''.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/its-easier-to-change-a-body-than-to-change-a-mind-the-extraordinary-life-and-lonely-death-of-roberta-cowell-8899823.htmlMatthew Bell, "'It's easier to change a body than to change a mind': The extraordinary life and lonely death of Roberta Cowell" ''Independent on Sunday'' 27 October 2013</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 12:32, 1 November 2013
Roberta Cowell (1918–2011) was the first known British male-to-female transsexual to undergo sex reassignment surgery.[1]
Born Robert Cowell in Croydon, she was a Spitfire pilot in World War II and a racing driver after the war. She had a vaginoplasty in 1951, via a surgical method invented and performed by Dr Harold Gillies. This occurred two years before Christine Jorgensen's surgery in Denmark. Roberta Cowell's surgical transformation and friendship with the female-to-male transsexual Michael Dillon, also operated on by the plastic surgeon Sir Harold Gillies, is documented in the book The First Man-Made Man by Pagan Kennedy [2]. Roberta's life is described in her biography, Roberta Cowell's Story.[3]
Roberta was able to have her birth certificate changed, which later became impossible (following the Corbett v Corbett decision) until the recent Gender Recognition Act. She was thus technically in a same-sex marriage until her divorce.
In 2010, Croydon Trans Group held a celebration of Roberta Cowell's life as part of LGBT History Month.[4]
Roberta Cowell died in October 2011, but this was known to few people, and was first reported two years later, in the Independent on Sunday.[5]
References
- ↑ Roberta Cowell, the First British Transsexual, Transgender Zone Media Archives. http://www.transgenderzone.com/features/roberta_cowell.htm
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/books/review/Roach.t.html?ex=1331784000&en=7d2bd0c4d7848926&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
- ↑ Roberta Cowell's Story by Roberta Cowell, Heinemann, 1954
- ↑ A celebration of Roberta Cowell: http://www.croydontrans.org.uk/roberta.htm
- ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/its-easier-to-change-a-body-than-to-change-a-mind-the-extraordinary-life-and-lonely-death-of-roberta-cowell-8899823.htmlMatthew Bell, "'It's easier to change a body than to change a mind': The extraordinary life and lonely death of Roberta Cowell" Independent on Sunday 27 October 2013
