by Alison Mau
Thank you for seeing him,
Yours sincerely,
Brian
This letter, the first in a chain of correspondence back and forth between doctors, surgeons, lawyers and government officials throughout the autumn and winter of 1969, was a leap into the unknown for Brian Jones.
The letter looks simple enough, written in that straight-faced, practical manner doctors share — but read it again and you may find it quite amusing in a sad sort of way. This was the 1960s, homosexuality was illegal (and would stay that way for the best part of another twenty years) and even the most practical-minded GP would have been well aware that the things I was telling him were against the law. He obviously struggled with the fact that I was living as a woman, had been for quite some time, and considered myself pretty much married. You can see that in his reference to Tim as a ‘man friend’ — it sounds quaint and old-fashioned in 2015, but I’m guessing that was probably the only way he could countenance approaching the subject.
He wasn’t my usual GP, just someone I’d picked out of the phone book, but I liked his manner. At first, when I sat down in his rooms he thought I was a woman anyway.
He asked me, as GPs do, how he could help me that day.
‘Look, I’ve just come back from London, where I’ve been on hormones.’
‘What hormones?’
‘Stuff to help me with the transition from male to female.’
I could see he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about, so I gave him the whole story. How I’d felt from a very young age that I should be a girl not a boy, and how in London I’d met someone who had done what I wanted him to help me do.
Her name was Pat Reid, a former showgirl and a prostitute when I met her, and one of the first to have had the sex-change operation in London. A big lady, standing six foot three at least, and always known as ‘Miss Reid’. We became quite good friends in the end and one day I asked her whether she’d had her birth certificate changed from male to female after her surgery.
‘No, the government won’t allow it,’ she told me.
I asked her why would she bother then if she couldn’t be officially recognised as a woman, and she told me she couldn’t go on as a man as she had to make a living.
‘And you know, Garry, what I do for a living.’
At the end of this story Dr Jones looked at me in bewilderment.
‘Have you thought about the implications of all this?’
‘Yes, of course. Lots.’
He admitted he didn’t know much at all about the process, or whether it was even possible, but he agreed to help where he could. It’s my great fortune that he chose to introduce me to a real revolutionary — the psychiatrist Dr John Dobson.
When I met Dobson he was not at all fazed by my story, nor by what I wanted to do. He interviewed me at length, looked into my background, reviewed my childhood Welfare records, and sent me on to Christchurch’s top plastic surgery team.
Letter from Thomas W. Milliken, reconstructive surgeon, to Dr Brian Jones, 7 May 1969
Dear Brian,
Re: MRS ELIZABETH TRASK
Thank you for asking me to see this man.
I am amazed to see just how feminine he is, and there seems no doubt he wants to live this way. He is intelligent, and I explained things pretty fully to him as regards to what I could do from an operative point of view. I would amputate the penis and castrate him, and use the skin from the penis to make labial folds as far as it is possible.
You would agree this has to be sewn up very tightly from a legal point of view, and I have said that I will ask John Dobson to see him again. Also I think he requires a second Psychiatric opinion and then a good lawyer, and I am doubtful whether [deleted] is the right man for the job.
I will contact John Dobson in the next day or two, and we will keep you fully informed of any developments.
Yours sincerely,
Tom
The line in Tom Milliken’s letter about ‘sewing it up very tightly’ has always made me laugh, but to be honest my first meeting with him did not exactly fill me with confidence. He was known to be the best — a reconstructive genius — but he looked like a farmer, tall and broad with absolutely huge hands. I spent the meeting glancing at them nervously, wondering how those massive fingers could possibly work the intricate wonders in the operating theatre that Milliken was famous for.
He told me he’d never done anything like this before, but had seen something about it in a magazine. I had vague visions of Woman’s Day, but he was referring to an article in the British Medical Journal. He gave it to me and told me to take it away and read it.
We talked about what he planned to do if the surgery went ahead, but he was very firm on one point. He would not give me a vagina.
‘I won’t play God, Mrs Trask,’ he said.
We talked about breast enlargement surgery and he was creative and practical, but had never been asked to do one until then. He suggested he could shave down some surgical foam, shape it to look like a breast, and insert that. But truth be told I already had a decent bust from the hormones I’d begun taking back in London, so we left that off the list for what was already quite an involved and difficult operation.
I had always promised myself I wouldn’t bother with surgery unless I could become what I saw as ‘truly’ a woman; easier said than done. I wanted to keep a relationship with my family, but as Elizabeth, not Garry; and most of all I wanted to be seen as a woman in the eyes of officialdom. Which meant a birth certificate that said Female.
Without that, it would have just been easier to live my life as I already was really: in drag. I’d had a good life in London, especially in the final years when I was living fulltime as a woman, and had vague plans to go back there. But there was no way the surgery was happening without that birth certificate.
So, as Tom Milliken’s letter points out, it did indeed need to be ‘sewn up tightly’. I suppose I was expecting a fight. Several lawyers were approached — all turned us down; the search went on until we found Barry McNeil, at Godfrey Godfrey McNeil in Christchurch.
I went to my first appointment with Barry McNeil in men’s clothing because I was working and had to spend the morning as a man. Settled in his office on Armargh Street, he listened calmly as I told him what I was planning to do. When I’d finished, he simply said, ‘I’ll write a letter to the Registrar-General,’ as if it was the simplest of everyday legal niceties.
And so he did.
Letter from I.B. McNeil of Godfrey Godfrey McNeil, Barristers and Solicitors, Christchurch, 20 May 1969
The Registrar of Births,
Private Bag,
Wellington.
Dear Sir,
A client of ours is in the near future to undergo a sex change operation in Christchurch.
Our client was born a male and after the operation will be, we have been advised, anatomically female.
A change of name application will be made to you in due course and in the meantime we should be pleased if you could advise us whether you would be prepared to issue a new birth certificate to replace the existing birth certificate or alternatively amend the existing one as regards sex.
We presume that in either event you will require some proof of the sex change and accordingly we should be pleased to have some indication of the evidence you would like in that regard.
Yours faithfully,
I.B. McNeil
Letter from J.L. Wright, Registrar-General, to Barry NcNeil, 26 May 1969.
Messrs Godfrey, Godfrey & McNeill
Barristers and Solicitors
PO Box 134
Christchurch 1
Dear Sirs,
I have received your letter dated 20 May.
It is not clear from your letter whether you wish to lodge a deed poll for your client changing his Ch
ristian name before he undergoes a sex change operation or after such an operation. In either case the deed poll will be acceptable in this office.
However, no alteration can be made to the existing birth registration until documentary evidence is received in this office as to the change of sex. I suggest that after the operation he obtains from two doctors a statement as to the change of sex. Also, he should let us have in writing a request that his birth entry be amended to show his sex as female.
I suggest that when he forwards the documents to this office he makes reference to this correspondence on RG 1/19.
Yours faithfully,
J.L. Wright
Registrar-General
So far so good. When Barry McNeil showed me that letter I was shocked, absolutely shocked. I had never really fully believed that I could have what I so badly wanted. At that moment, staring at the letter in the plush solicitors office, I could barely believe my eyes.
We started to collect the supporting evidence we needed.
Letter from Dr John Dobson, psychiatrist, to Dr Brian Jones, GP, 13 June 1969
Dr Brian Jones
83 Waltham Rd
Christchurch 2
Dear Brian.
Re: Mrs Elizabeth Trask
(alias Gary Roberts, 148 Tancred St. — 25 years)
I saw this patient of yours first 14/4/69 and with his friend Tim Trask 31/5/69. I have perused his Child Welfare Division file and discussed the problem with Tom Milliken and with his solicitor Mr McNeil.
Information relevant to his request for gender transformation surgery are these — he describes interests and attitude consistent with feminine identity since his earliest memories at aged 41/2 years. At school he hated sport, was referred to the school psychological service 31/8/43 aged 13 — 8 years.
His notes then describe I.Q. 104 — 113, nervous, reserved, effeminate, with interests and skill in artistic pursuits, difficulty making friends. Father is described as impatient and repressive, mother anxious, tense, restrictive. His difficulties then were attributed to parental attitudes, especially the father who was unable to tolerate Gary’s feminine interests and activities and reacted with violence.
His parents sought assistance from C.W.D. who obtained a report 9/4/58 (aged 14 years) from Dr J.F.W. Stenhouse who comments that Gary expresses hope for a sex change in a few years’ time. He comments on his withdrawal, lack of open resentment and aggressiveness with indifference to misconduct. Truancy and provocative behaviour led to his removal from home and placement in Child Welfare Boys’ Home, Christchurch. After initial improvement including starting work as an apprentice cutter his adjustment deteriorated and he spent some months at the Boys’ Training Centre, Levin. There his overtly and grossly effeminate behaviour and attitudes created difficulties for himself and the staff. Successful at puppet shows and housework he failed to be accepted in a male environment.
At interview he appeared dressed as a woman and has convincingly maintained that role at each interview. I can believe his statement that he excites comment in pubic only when dressed as a male. He insists that all his life he has desired to be accepted as a woman, began cross dressing about 1961, lived as a female from about 1964 in London.
1966 — first oestrogen implants which softened his skin, diminished hair growth and resulted in a failure of his libido (which, he claims, was never strong).
1968 — states he established a stable de facto relationship with a heterosexual man, who subsequently married after pressure from his father. He insists his present steady relationship with Tim Trask began in August ’68. Tim agrees with Gary’s statement that they intend to marry if gender transformation surgery and the legal details can be arranged.
He fulfils the major criteria for gender change, i.e.
Desire to be a female from childhood.
Demonstrated ability to maintain satisfactorily a female role.
Adequate duration of chemical castration.
Absence of psychosis or severely disabling personality traits.
I understand Mr. McNeil has been informed by the Registrar-General that a certificate from two medical practitioners stating that Gary now fulfils the criteria which justify regarding him as a female, that his birth certificate can then be officially altered.
I recommend that plastic surgical alteration of his genitals be undertaken in order to provide him with the external appearance of female genitalia. He does not request a vagina.
I would be glad to follow up progress to ensure satisfactory transition. The adjustment of his oestrogen dosage, I leave to you.
Yours sincerely,
J.R.E. Dobson, M.B., Ch.B., F.A.N.Z.C.P., D.P.M. (Lond.)
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
If the process with Registry of Births was progressing remarkably simply and openly, the same cannot be said for plans for the surgery itself. That was quite necessarily cloaked in secrecy.
Thomas Milliken booked me into the private St George’s Hospital under the name of Mrs Trask, which apparently was perfectly legal, and very helpful in keeping the process a secret. It wasn’t difficult to hide the fact that I was male from the nurses ahead of the operation, as the hormones I’d been taking since London had shrunk my penis and testicles almost completely away (this is known as chemical castration). Milliken didn’t tell the hospital what he was intending to do — outside of the operating theatre staff, very few people knew the ground that was about to be broken.
The operation took place on 22 July 1969.
On the day, the secret was easy to keep as the attention of almost all — hospital staff, visitors and patients alike — was firmly on the radios and televisions dotted around the place. It was the day Neil Armstrong took his first step onto the surface of the moon.
I remember a nurse coming into the ward as I recovered from the general anaesthetic and saying with great gusto: ‘We’re on the moon!’
In the fog of drugs I misunderstood her completely, and thought she was referring to my surgery.
‘Oh honey, I’m over it!’
She looked at me strangely, then bustled about, emptying my catheter and changing the dressing on my leg, but was obviously distracted. As she bandaged me up again I felt something pierce right through my thigh. Thank goodness for the drugs.
‘I think you just put the safety pin through my leg,’ I said to her.
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ she scolded — but I was right. She pulled it out and begged me not to tell anyone.
Things turned rather sour a few days later, when several nurses came stomping angrily into my room. Someone at the hospital had blabbed to the papers — there was a story about ‘This creation’ at St George’s they told me, and the staff were livid that their reputation had been besmirched. I didn’t ever see the newspaper they referred to; I didn’t want to witness the fuss or sully the extraordinary feeling that, finally, I’d got what I’d always wanted.
Text of the affidavit of Thomas Milliken, surgeon, dated 7 August 1969
I, Thomas William Milliken of Christchurch, Plastic Surgeon, do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:
That I am a registered medical practitioner and have been practising in Christchurch as a Plastic Surgeon continuously for the past thirteen years.
That I am acquainted with ELIZABETH ANNE ROBERTS formerly known as GARRY ALEXANDER ROBERTS and I am aware that said ELIZABETH ANNE ROBERTS was born a male person.
That upon the recommendation of my colleague JOHN ROBERT EARLE DOBSON of Christchurch, Psychiatrist and after examining the said ELIZABETH ANNE ROBERTS I performed a surgical operation on the said ELIZABETH ANNE ROBERTS at St George’s Private Hospital Christchurch on the 22nd day of July 1969, which surgical operation effected a change in the sexual makeup of the said ELIZABETH ANNE ROBERTS.
That following medical treatment that has been administered on
the said ELIZABTETH ANNE ROBERTS and following the said surgical operation which I performed I verily believe the said ELIZABETH ANNE ROBERTS to be a female person.
And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957.
Text of the affidavit of Dr John Dobson, Psychiatrist, dated 28 August 1969
I, John Robert Earl Dobson of Christchurch, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am a registered medical practitioner and have been a psychiatrist for 8 years. I am acquainted with Elizabeth Anne Roberts formerly known as Gary Alexander Roberts, and I am aware that said Elizabeth Anne Roberts was born a male person. I have from time to time examined Elizabeth Anne Roberts and at various times administered medical treatment and I recommended that a surgical operation be performed to effect a change of sex.
I am aware the said surgical operation was performed by my colleague Thomas William Milliken of Christchurch, plastic surgeon at St Georges Private Hospital, Christchurch on the 22nd of July 1969. Following the medical treatment that has been administered from time to time and following the said surgical operation which has been performed, I verily believe the said Elizabeth Anne Roberts to be a female person, and I make this solemn declaration consciously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957.
Once all the testimonies were gathered, including my own, Barry McNeil sent them to the Registrar of Births, with a cheque for the required fee of $4.
Letter from J.L. Wright, Registrar-General, to Messrs Godfrey Godfrey and McNeil, Solicitors, 4 September 1969.
Dear Sirs,
Thank you for your letter of 1 September enclosing the declarations and deed poll in respect of Garry Alexander Roberts.
The item relating to sex on the birth registration has been amended to show female. The endorsement as to the deed poll is being actioned separately and you will shortly receive a fresh birth certificate showing the amended Christian names.