Civic honour for City icon
INSPIRATIONAL transgender campaigner,
April Ashley will be named a 'Citizen of Honour' in her home City this week.
At an intimate ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall, April will be awarded the honour
in recognition of her work in fighting for transgender equality. Wednesday, 29
April 2015, also marks April's 80th Birthday, so will be a fitting way for her to
celebrate this landmark occasion.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Erica Kemp CBE said:- "I am delighted
to be honouring this outstanding lady for her dedication and commitment to
ensuring that the transgender, gay, lesbian and bisexual community are listened to
and given equal rights.
Her tireless campaigning, determination and courage make her a most worthy
recipient of this honour. I hope that by awarding April a Citizen of
Honour we can highlight the inequalities that individuals still suffer today and
encourage those who feel lost and confused to reach out and realise that they
are not alone."
April Ashley said:- "It is wonderful to be receiving this honour in my
home city and for such a worthy cause.
We all have a responsibility to stand up and fight for basic human rights and to
be recognised for this is truly wonderful.
It is also a fantastic way to celebrate a landmark birthday in one of our most
historic and stunning buildings."
Born in Liverpool on 29 April 1935 as George Jamieson at the age of 25 she was
one of the first people to have gender reassignment. Since then from her
platform as a successful model, she has been instrumental in the campaign for
transgender and LGBT equality.
In 2012 in recognition for her services to transgender equality she was awarded
the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2012 Birthday
Honours. She speaks regularly on LGBT rights, including most recently in 2008 at
St George's Hall.
In addition this week, Liverpool's 1st Transgender Pride Flag will be given to
the Museum of Liverpool archive. The flag was 1st presented to the Lord Mayor,
Councillor Erica Kemp, by members of the local transgender community in November
2014. It was flown for the first time in support of Transgender Day of
Remembrance, a global event, held annually on the 20 November 2015 to remember transgender lives lost to
violence and prejudice.
Sophie Green, from Liverpool Trans said:- "It's incredibly empowering to
see your community represented and the Transgender Pride flag represents a group
which often faces huge prejudice and intolerance throughout the world. To
witness members of the transgender community raise the flag above Town Hall was
an incredibly proud moment and I'm delighted it will soon to be part of the
Museum of Liverpool Archive."
