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Transgender 'pioneer' Julia Grant dies aged 64 Julia Grant: Transgender 'pioneer' dies aged 64
(35 minutes later)
A "transgender pioneer" whose gender reassignment was documented in a BBC TV series has died. Julia Grant, the first trans woman to share her story on primetime British TV, has died at the age of 64 following a short illness.
Julia Grant was one of the first to allow TV cameras to follow her transition, in the late 1970s programme A Change of Sex, which was watched by 20 million viewers. Ms Grant - born George Roberts - rose to prominence after appearing in the 1979 BBC documentary, A Change Of Sex.
Confirming her death, gay rights campaigner and ex-MP John Leech described her as the "leader" of the LGBT community. The BBC 2 show, and its four follow-ups, told the story of her transition.
He said she changed thousands of lives. David Pearson, who directed the series, described Ms Grant as a "pioneer" who helped start "a huge change in public attitudes towards trans people".
'True equality' Ms Grant survived bowel cancer in recent years but suffered from multiple health problems in 2018 and died on 2 January.
BBC Two show A Change Of Sex followed the story of 64-year-old Ms Grant - who was born in Blackpool, brought up in Preston and lived latterly in Manchester. Her brother, Gary Roberts, told the BBC she had "worked tirelessly for her community".
Over several years, beginning in 1979, the programme tracked events from the time of Ms Grant's decision to have gender reassignment, from a man to a woman. He added: "You could say she was a bit like Marmite, but she probably built more bridges in her community than she burnt.
Latest news and updates from the North West of England "She inspired a lot of people to believe in themselves and was always there to fight the cause."
Her friend DJ Ross Alexander said on social media he got to say goodbye to her before she died in Preston surrounded by her family. 'A leader'
He posted on Facebook she was a "loyal and supportive friend" who he will "miss very much". Speaking to the BBC, Mr Pearson added: "It's difficult if you weren't around at that time to realise how closed and secretive that whole [trans] scene was - and the gay scene to some extent.
"Your dedication, bravery, hard graft and love for the LGBT community will never be forgotten." "Essentially, overnight, she made it possible for people to understand what it was like - and she continued to do that."
Mr Leech, now Manchester council's Liberal Democrat leader, said Ms Grant died in the early hours of Wednesday. LGBTQ+ rights campaigner and Manchester Liberal Democrat leader John Leech said Ms Grant had been "rightfully looked up to by many as a leader in the LGBTQ+ community, in particular here in Manchester".
During her life she completely shaped the national trans debate and inspired people with gender dysphoria to get support, he explained. Ms Grant first became involved in the BBC documentary series after contacting the broadcaster to complain about it describing a transvestite as a transsexual, she said in 2014.
"Throughout her life, she took on issues others couldn't... bring themselves to and, in the process, changed the course of thousands of people's lives," he said. After speaking to a producer on the phone, she agreed to become the subject of a film exploring the process of transitioning from George to Julia.
The Didsbury councillor said she was still campaigning most recently about the "overdevelopment and destruction of [the] heritage" in Manchester's Gay Village. The film, which eventually became a series, followed her journey from seeking advice at Charing Cross Hospital to living as a woman socially for a year, having the gender reassignment surgery and then her life after surgery.
"Whilst a sad day, it is also a day to remind ourselves of her immense contributions to society and an even better day to renew our fight for true equality," he said. Almost nine million people tuned in to watch the first episode.
Despite some negative coverage of the show by tabloid newspapers, the response from viewers was "overwhelmingly positive", Mr Pearson said.
He added Ms Grant told him later in life that changing her gender was the "best thing she ever did".
Born in Preston but raised with her five sisters and two brothers in Fleetwood, Ms Grant worked at various points as a chef, prostitute, NHS adviser, writer, ceramics teacher, bar owner, hotel owner and festival organiser. She lived abroad in Spain, France and the Netherlands.
As well as appearing in the BBC documentaries, Ms Roberts wrote two books about her life, helped set up Benidorm Gay Pride and spent time in the US counselling young people considering gender reassignment surgery.
She remained active in the trans community throughout her life, though her views - in particular that children should not be allowed to have sex changes - were seen as controversial by some of her peers.