February 13, 1953: The Transition of Christine Jorgensen

February 13, 1953: Christine Jorgensen returns to America, becoming the 1st officially fully transsexual – or, as we would say today, fully transitioned transgender – person in America.

Born on May 30, 1926 in The Bronx, with the name George William Jorgensen Jr., she served in World War II before discovering that what would now be called her transition was possible. It happened in Denmark in 1952.

Upon her return to the United States, her transition was the subject of a front-page story in the New York Daily News, then the most sensational of New York City tabloid newspapers. She became an instant celebrity, known for her directness and polished wit, and used the platform to advocate for what would now be called transgender people.

Her 1967 autobiography Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography sold almost 450,000 copies. Throughout her career, she gave lectures at colleges and universities on the topics of transsexuality. According to publicist Chris Costello, Jorgensen hated the term "transsexual," preferring to refer to herself simply as someone who had gone through a "sex change."

Although the surgery had been done in Denmark, somewhere down the line, people got confused as to the location, and a person who underwent such surgery was said to have "gone to Sweden."

Jorgensen became an actress and an advocate for people like herself, and lived until May 3, 1989.

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February 13, 1953 was a Friday -- a Friday the 13th. Baseball and football were out of season. The NHL had no games scheduled. There were 3 games played in the NBA:

* In the 1st game of a doubleheader at the Boston Garden, the New York Knicks beat the Baltimore Bullets, 106-96.

* In the 2nd game, the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Hawks, 77-74.

* And the Syracuse Nationals beat the Indianapolis Olympians, 89-86 at the Butler Fieldhouse (now the Hinkle Fieldhouse) in Indianapolis.