In Memory of April Ashley: Iconic Trans Woman
by Siobhan Donegan
I was deeply saddened by the news that the truly iconic, pioneer, trailblazing beautiful transwoman April Ashley had died on the 27th December 2021-at her home in London aged 86. A friend of April’s, Tim Brunsden confirmed April’s passing however, he wasn’t able to specify the cause of death-but was able to add that April had been in failing health. In all probability the entire trans-community, especially the British community will be saddened by the loss of such a significant and amazing individual as April Ashley.
For those of you who have read and hopefully enjoyed reading my articles-some of you of course might have realised that I have already written a previous article on April Ashley. However, in my defence that article was written quite a while ago-was very short-and as April has only very recently passed away-I thought that this wonderful and important transwoman was definitely writing more about, and I also felt that this would be my own personal way of paying my respects too.
April Ashley has been described as epitomising the hedonism of the swinging 1960’s, especially the cool scene that was just beginning to emerge in the London society of the time. During this era she partied with members of the 60’s rock hierarchy-elite, such as John Lennon and Mick Jagger. However, she also moved in high profile circles of the European ‘chic-set’ and as she found that she had a talent for moving in such privileged company and cultivated a number of wealthy friends, she often found that she didn’t have to work.
As such, I personally think that not only should the elegant April be seen and remembered as a trailblazing pioneer Transgender Woman -being historically the second British person to undergo gender reassignment surgery – but should also be remembered simply as an iconic beautiful woman of the 1960’s in the same way as, for example that of Twiggy, Audrey Hepburn and Jean Shrimpton are.
It was while performing at the Le Carrousel night club in Paris, which was renowned for its drag acts, that April saved the money that she needed for her gender reassignment operation. As this procedure was illegal in Britain at the time she had to go to Casablanca, Morocco. However, despite the obvious physical pain, April stated that becoming a woman in 1960 had been the happiest day of her life.
Ms Ashley was (or believed to be) the second person to have undergone gender reassignment surgery in Britain. She was also ‘desperately ill’ after the procedure-in the early days of recovery. In fact, during this era-the operation was still considered dangerous, April had been given a 50-50 chance of survival. However, many years later April, reflecting on this, told an interviewer that she hardly cared stating that, “I would prefer to have died than not have the operation.”
After her gender reassignment procedure April returned to London where to support and establish her ‘new’ identity obtained a passport and driving licence which identified her as female. Furthermore, from the time April arrived in London she began to rise in popularity. This of course was the era of the swinging 60’s and in reference to this early point in her life. April has been described as an ‘elegant fixture’ of the London society of the time. Her new-found fame was no doubt due to her ‘doe-eyed’ stunning good looks and her statuesque-slender beauty. She was also always ‘immaculately dressed’, often wearing a glamorous pearl necklace and ‘Balmain suit or fur coat’. As such she attracted the attention of and was photographed by David Bailey and Terence Donovan.
This of course was a very exciting and creative part of April’s life and not just because she was in the first flush of youth. In other words, this was the beginning of what looked like being a highly successful career. Whilst in London April, with her striking good looks, was able to work as a model, perhaps being the first trans-woman, certainly in Britain, to work as a model, and was photographed for Vogue magazine. Ms Ashley also had the beginnings of a potential career as a film actress as she played a role opposite Joan Collins in the film ‘Road to Hong Kong’.
However, after Ms Ashley had undergone her gender confirmation procedure (before and after), the movement for transgender rights was as one writer described it still ‘in its infancy’. As such, April was living as a woman ‘by stealth’-in other words the fact that she was transgender wasn’t public knowledge, and her early career as a model and potential screen career came to an end, after she was outed in 1961 by the Sunday People newspaper.
Despite this setback April, it would seem, remained as popular as ever and even and inevitably attracted the attention of some very famous men. A few very interesting examples I think should suffice here. Ms Ashley was at one point apparently approached by none other than Elvis Presley himself, who tried his best to woe her. Her unique looks and fame also attracted the attention of the famous surreal artist Salvador Dali who wanted to paint Ms Ashley in the nude -however, she declined.
In a subsequent work on her life story -written by April herself as a memoir called ‘The First Lady’ 2006 with Douglas Thompson, which was in fact being considered as a potential film-with Catherine Zeta Jones playing the part of April. However, when it came to light that April had used large sections from her previous autobiography 1982s ‘April Ashley’s Odyssey’, not only were copies of this new book scrapped but the movie plans were also ditched as well. However, it appeared that this misadventure didn’t bother April.
In 2012 April was named to the ‘Order of the British Empire’ for her ‘Service to transgender equality’. In Liverpool she was named as a ‘citizen of honour’ in acknowledgement of her accomplishments.
