Christine Jorgensen became the first American to ‘fully’ medically transition, her transition becoming public after she served in World War II and came out.

The ex-GI captivated the world when her 1952 sexual reassignment surgery made headlines, catapulting her to international fame. Jorgensen's unprecedented visibility brought public awareness to transgender issues and helped define dialogue on gender identity in the decades ahead.

She became an actress and recording artist in the years following her public transition, continuing to advocate for trans rights.