Who is Christine Jorgensen?
Christine Jorgensen was an American woman who is perhaps most famous for being one of the most prominent early transsexuals. While Jorgensen was not the first transsexual in the United States, she became quite famous, and used her fame to champion the rights of transsexuals and to discuss sex and gender in the United States. For many members of the transsexual community, Christine Jorgensen is an inspiring icon and pioneer. Jorgensen was born George William Jorgenson in 1926. He studied as a photographer, and then served in the Second World War. Upon returning to his hometown of New York after the war, Jorgensen started taking feminization hormones under the direction of Dr. Joseph Angelo, and eventually traveled to Europe with the intent of receiving sexual reassignment surgery. Jorgensen ended up in Denmark, receiving numerous surgeries from Dr. Christian Hamburger and taking additional hormones. While not the first transsexual, Christine Jorgensen did make history by combining long-
