Transgender Icons That Have Shaped History
April Ashley put a face on the trans community in 1960. She was a British actress and model, working so she could afford her gender reassignment surgery. Her story was published without her consent in Sunday People, but helped others become more accepting of transgender individuals. She died December 27th 2021.
Holly Woodlawn was born in Puerto Rico as Haraldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez. However, it didn’t take her long to realize that it felt wrong. She chose her new name by combining the character names of two Audrey Hepburn characters (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and an episode of I Love Lucy). She eventually moved to to New York City and appeared in several films, as well as founding the Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund, which was designed to inspire and help transgender youth. She died in 2015 at the age of 69.
Marsha P. Johnson was a drag performer that performed in Factory from Andy Warhol. She was a big advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, wanting to raise awareness for trans acceptance and HIV. She was even a part of the Stonewall Uprising, which inspired the Pride Parade. She died in 1992 after being found in the Hudson River. While her death was initially ruled a suicide, public outcry led to the case being reopened and reinvestigated as a homicide.
Sophia Lamar has been active in the cinema scene, especially as far as LGBT entertainment goes. She became a Club Kid in New York City, after being a part of the Cuban underground scene. She’s also been the face for many fashion brands and represented NYU for AIDS research.
Candy Darling was born James Lawrence Slattery. She would go on to perform in multiple films, including Flesh, Blood Night, Silent Night, and Women Revolt. At age 29, she announced she was transgender, which was unprecedented at the time, before dying of lymphoma.
Ian Harvie began transitioning from female to male at age 19, finishing the process at age 32. He’s been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He’s a stand-up comedian, having opened for Margaret Cho in the 2000s with jokes that primarily focus on identity and gender. Something that his audiences find funny and emotional.
Eva Robin’s is an Italian activist, model, and actress. She’s even appeared in the Dario Agentino movie Tenebrae. She’s claimed to have known who she was really was since she was 13. She’s very outspoken for LGBTQ+ rights.
Bibiana Fernández, also known as Bibi Andersen, is a Spanish model and actress. She’s best known for appearing in several films, including Law of Desire, Matador, and Rowing with the Wind. She transitioned in 1991 and legally changed her name three years later. She was married to Asdrubal Ametller, another model, but the pair have since divorced.
While most of the other people on this list so far transitioned before achieving acclaim and fame, Lauren Harries didn’t have that luxury. She had been appearing on television at age 13 and had plenty of time to garner attention. So when she began to transition, there was a lot of harassment. Even so, the actress has gone on to have a successful career, appearing in media such as This Morning and Big Brother’s Bit on the Side.
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