Early Television Appearances

As part of her educational campaign, Virginia Prince went on a number of local television shows in the 1960s.

A lot of early television coverage that gave Trans+ people a platform was only aired on local-access television. These appearances did not have the wider reach that later syndicated shows would. Despite this, shows like Gender 101, published by IFGE, still gave Trans+ people the opportunity to have a voice and to advocate for themselves.

To attract audiences, TV presenters would often sensationalize the portrayal of Trans+ stories. Joanna Clark remembers all too well what this was like.

Kimberly Nixon is known by many as a hero for championing legal action against the Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter Society for discrimination.

In this audio clip, Nixon talks about the very first time she saw another transgender woman on TV: physician and elite tennis player, Renée Richards.

Watch Richards' segment on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1977).


For more Television Shows, browse these pages:

To read more about Virginia Prince's work and IFGE, browse these pages:

To explore more of the exhibition, follow these pages: