Trans pioneer Virginia Prince dies

Virginia Prince, trans pioneer who lead the way in the 1960s has passed away. We present an obiturary written by Lynda Frank.

On Saturday May 2nd, 2009 Virginia Prince passed away at the age of 97. For many years the primo leader of the transgender community, her passing is a loss for us all. The Transvestite and his Wife written by her and published in 1967, and Understanding Cross Dressing, also written and published  by Ms Prince in 1976 were self published mainly because no one else would publish such a book at that time. I was fortunate enough to find The Transvestite and His Wife in a drag store called Lee’s Mardigras in a rundown building on the third floor on 10th Avenue in New York City. (Lee’s was run by Lee Brewster, a past leader in the drag community.) Truly, what a task — she had to write the book, publish it, and then find a place where it would be sold.

I met Virginia in the mid-’80s and told her how I thought I was the only one, and then I found someone had written an entire book about how I felt. She became one of my dearest friends from then on. Even though she would keep telling my wife Marilyn that if anything happened to me she was available.

She was the most caring and giving person I have ever met. Going out of her way to help anyone who needed the help she would freely give. There are those who thought she gave too much and for those people I feel sorry because of their ignorance. To really know her was to love her.

I have never met and I’m sure I never will again know another person with the clarity of thought and direction of purpose as she. This world is in a better place because of her.

Lynda Frank

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