Trans Activist Julie Grant Passes Away Aged 64

Transgender rights activist and campaigner Julie Grant has passed away at the age of 64, the BBC reports.

Grant rose to notoriety after the BBC released a documentary series following her transition using the NHS. The documentary, titled “A Change of Sex”, was directed by David Pearson and is understood to be the first time a trans person’s transition was shown on television.

"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,” said Pearson.

"Essentially, overnight, she made it possible for people to understand what it was like - and she continued to do that."

Grant also ran a popular gay venue in Manchester and wrote a book, Just Julia: The Story of an Extraordinary Woman in 1994.

“She worked tirelessly for her community,” her brother, Gary Roberts, said to the BBC. "You could say she was a bit like Marmite, but she probably built more bridges in her community than she burnt.

"She inspired a lot of people to believe in themselves and was always there to fight the cause."

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