Canal Street Online Manchester

April Ashley given MBE

April Ashley given MBE

Actress and transgender pioneer April Ashley was given a MBE for services to equality in the Queen’s Birthday Honors list.

Ashley, 77, was the first British person to have gender reassignment surgery in 1960, and since has dedicated her life to transgender equality.

She was given a MBE, or Member of the British Empire, as part of the annual Queen’s Birthday Honors list.
Other people honored by the Queen this year include Take That's Gary Barlow, and actor Kenneth Branagh.

Ashley is currently writing her second autobiography, about her life from 1980 to the present day.

Watch interview here.

Right picture by Vic Singh / Rex Features

Published: 16-Jun-2012: (1353)

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