The United States and the rest of the world has been steadily moving forward in the march for social justice and equality – but there is still a long way to go. With that being said, we have seen a massive rise in acceptance toward the transgender movement. Today we are going to highlight 20 public figures who underwent gender reassignment surgery and came out heroes to the social justice movement.
Thomas Beatie
To kick off our list we are going to highlight Thomas Beatie who had his gender reassignment surgery back in March of 2002. Beatie is most famous for being ‘The Pregnant Man’ but since then he has focused his life on public speaking and making a cultural impact and a political one. While Beatie’s rise came organically he has used his position to fight for important LGBTQ topics like health insurance coverage.
Thomas Beatie
Amiyah Scott
For years now, Amiyah Scott has lived life under the public eye. Scott went from a social media starlet to true acting star when she transitioned to television and lead in the TV show, Star which appeared on the Amazon streaming service. Amiyah Scott is loud, proud, and outspoken about her life as an entertainer, a transgendered woman, and as someone who can lead change into the LGBTQ future. Furthermore Scott has also famously, and continually, passed up reality TV show offers citing that they weren’t the right fit for her.
Amiyah Scott
Octavia St Laurent
Octavia St Laurent was a passionate soul singer who made her fortune and name in the field of music. St Laurent appeared in a few high profile documentaries including Paris is Burning and How Do I Look. She unfortunately succumbed to a long fight with cancer at the age of 44, back in 2009. Laurent’s story perfectly encapsulates the need for affordable health insurance coverage without having to hire a financial advisor to help organize your expenses.
Octavia St. Laurent
Claudia Charriez
Firstly Claudia Charriez is another famous face from America’s Next Top Model – Charriez appeared on the show in the early days but was controversially disqualified when it was revealed that she was not a biological female. Since then Charriez has appeared on The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency as well as America’s Next Top Model: All Stars.
Claudia Charriez
Carmen Carrera
Oh look, Carmen Carrera is another high profile transgender face thanks to her work on several big television programs! Carrera starred in RuPaul’s Drag Race and Real Housewives of New York City. Additionally Carrera bucked expectations when she revealed that she had gender reassignment surgery and wasn’t, in her words, “just a man in drag”. Right now Carrera is a full time actress and model who also has made a name for herself as an advocate for the LGBTQ world.
Carmen Carrera
Alicia Liu
Bow down: Alicia Liu is a model and TV host from Taiwan who made headlines when she underwent her reassignment surgery at 18 years old. Liu is probably most famous for being outed by a spiteful former classmate who posted her graduation photo on the internet. Instead of running and hiding or leaning on her health insurance coverage for support, Liu took a public press conference and spoke directly to the world about how happy she was with herself. Liu cites this moment as one of the most defining of her life.
Alicia Liu
Alexandra Billings
Up next: Alexandra Billings was born and raised in Schaumburg, IL where she pursued a career as an actress. Billings worked in and around some of Chicago’s most prestigious theaters including the Steppenwolf Theater. Moreover, Billings is most well known for being the second transgender woman to ever play a transgender character on television — that’s a trait her financial advisor can take to the bank. As such Billings is currently starring on the Amazon streaming series, ‘Transparent.’
Alexandra Billings
Lilly Wachowski
Next up – Lilly Wachowski, born Andrew Wachowski, is the other half of the famous Wachowski siblings. Lilly Wachowski followed her sister, Lana, down the gender reassignment path. Lilly came out in 2016 through the Windy City Times but admitted that she had been transgender her entire life and was only now making it public thanks to the bravery of people like her sister, Lana. Most recently, she pioneered the worked one on the hit Netflix series Sense8 and now they are pushing ahead to bigger projects.
Lilly Wachowski
Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore is well known for her work as a singer and a model. She’s been involved in some high profile branding campaigns for M.A.C. and Swatch. Now Lepore’s gender reassignment surgery has been fairly dramatic as she has had to go beyond health insurance coverage in order to get a host of elective operations to tailor her unique look.
Amanda Lepore
Lea T
Lea T, born Leandro, was one of the first global transgender models on the planet. Not only does Lea T represent Redken but also models for a variety of other different companies and platforms. You probably didn’t know that Lea is the daughter of famous soccer player Toninho Cerezo. She had her reassignment surgery in March of 2011. In 2016 Lea T became the first open transgender person to take part in the open ceremonies of the Olympics when she performed at the 2016 Rio Games.
Lea T.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is one of the most famous faces in the transgender movement thanks to her high profile role as inmate Sofia Burset in the hit Netflix series, ‘Orange is the New Black’. Cox has become a fast rising star in Hollywood and she figures to continue pushing the limits and improving transgender relations simply with her talent. We’re sure Cox’ financial advisor is more than happy to keep Cox finding great work.
Laverne Cox
Lana Wachowski
Lana Wachowski, formerly one half of the ‘Wachowski Brothers’ duo, is one of the most successful film producers in the history of cinema. She has been one of the driving creative forces behind some of the biggest film events of all time. Wachowski is most well known for her work on the Matrix franchise. Her style on film is distinctive with a real focus on intense colors, notable soundtracks, and complex concepts.
Lana Wachowski
Aydian Dowling
First of all, Aydian Dowling is a famous transgendered body builder from New York. His unique job has made him an icon in the transgendered world and his effort to cultivate his physique has landed him the prestigious cover of Men’s Health magazine. Dowling has appeared all over the internet and mainstream media after going viral by recording his transition on YouTube. Now Dowling is an Instagram star and a full time model who has appeared on just about every talk show that you can imagine, including The Ellen Show.
Aydian Dowling
Chaz Bono
Chaz Bono is the only child that Sonny and Cher had together. Originally born Chastity, Chaz Bono rose to prominence thanks to the portrayal of his transformation in the film Becoming Chaz which was released in 2011. Bono transitioned from 2008 to 2010 and since then he has been largely focused on LGBTQ activism. Of course Bono has appeared in a slew of reality shows while also pushing his presence in the political world, endorsing Bill Clinton back in the ’90s and campaigning against the bigoted ‘Defense Of Marriage’ act. He also appeared on the 13th season of Dancing With the Stars. This was the first time that an opened transgendered man starred in a show unrelated to being transgendered.
Chaz Bono
Gigi Gorgeous
Up next is Gigi Gorgeous, a Canadian model, YouTuber, actress and personality. Born Gregory Lazzarato, Gigi would go on to broadcast her transition via YouTube while becoming an online personality along the way. Gorgeous now has become something of an ‘it girl’ in Hollywood since becoming active in the industry and comfortable with her transition. Gigi can be seen on Good Work, Access Hollywood, Project Runway: All Stars, and the only show The Avenue which ran for three years.
Gigi Gorgeous
Conchita Wurst
Yes, that Conchita Wurst! The one and only Austrian born singer who became famous after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 with her rendition of ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’. Wurst has sung in some of the most prominent places in show business and they continue to rack up credits thanks to their incredible singing voice. Lastly Wurst routinely performs at pride parades all around the world.
Conchita Wurst
Isis King
Isis King shot to fame on the 11th season of America’s Next Top Model. Like many other people on this list King was a pioneer thanks to her being the first ever trans woman to compete on the show. King quickly became the face of transgendered activism and equality on television, a title that was as good for her financial advisor as it was for her cause. Furthermore King continues to push her brand and is consistently one of the most famous open transgendered models in the world.
Isis King
Candis Cayne
Candis Cayne is something of a transgender pioneer as she was the first transgender actress to secure a transgendered role on television – Cayne appeared in ‘Dirty, sexy, Money.’ Cayne underwent a very strict hormone medication routine in order to get to her desired results. Thanks to affordable health insurance coverage, or at least her very savvy financial advisor team, this was affordable and effective for Cayne.
Candis Cayne
Janet Mock
Let’s see, Janet Mock is an author and transgender activist. Her book Redefining Realness landed on the New York Times bestseller list. Mock underwent her transition while in Thailand at the age of 18 during the middle of her first year at college. She’s got a Masters in Journalism from New York University.
Janet Mock
Caitlyn Jenner
Undoubtedly Caitlyn Jenner is one of the most famous transgendered individuals in the world today. Formerly known as Bruce Jenner, Bruce made the transition to Caitlyn back in 2015. Caitlyn’s prominence is made renown thanks to her high profile presence as a reality star and member of the Kardashian family. As Bruce Jenner, Caitlyn is an Olympic gold medal winner who has used her public presence in order to stand for LGBTQ rights.
Caitlyn Jenner
