Christine Jorgensen, 62, passed away on May 3, 1989. Christine was born on May 30, 1926, in the Bronx, New York, and is widely known as the first widely publicized person to have undergone gender reassignment surgery. Appearing in the New York Daily News in 1952, Christopher (later Christine) Jorgensen gained international attention as the first publicly prominent member of the transgender community, who later wrote and spoke about her long journey to transition. Jorgensen graduated from the New York Training School for Girls in 1944. She served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. Following her return home, Christine enrolled at the Manhattan medical school for further medical training. She worked for a time as an usher at Radio City Music Hall. In 1951, Christine traveled to Copenhagen for medical treatment and hormone injections, beginning her long journey to transition, and in late 1952 she returned to the U.S. to share her story publicly. During her lifetime, Christine was interviewed in the media, and toured widely in the U.S. and abroad to advocate and educate the public about the transgender experience. A tireless advocate for transgender rights, Christine won many friends and admirers over the years, and her story encouraged many transgender people and implanted the seeds of acceptance that are paying off today. Her story marked a milestone in the public's understanding of gender identity. Christine passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.