Transgender pioneer April Ashley - 1980 interview

Extract from What Am I? (1980) courtesy of the Media Archive for Central England.

Years before the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 enabled transgender people to obtain their full rights the practical difficulties faced by those wishing to change their sex were explored in this film produced for the ATV current affairs series Format V. Touching and sometimes frank, the film looks at issues around acceptance but there are also moments of humour, such as Steve's bad luck when bumping into his mother on his first night out as a man.

April Ashley, who features in the film while living in Hay on Wye in Herefordshire, was at the centre of a newspaper storm in the early sixties when she married Arthur Corbett, 3rd Baron Rowallan. Their marriage was annulled in 1970 on the grounds that Ashley was born male, despite Corbett knowing this when they were wed. Another significant figure to appear in the film is Judy Cousins who was running a self-help organisation called SHAFT in 1980. She was previously known as Lewen Tugwell, was a noted sculptor and served with the British Army in India.

[mikaelabowen]

I lived in Hay in the early eighties, when April still lived there - she was the most elegant and sophisticated woman in town, without a shadow of doubt. Hay was never the same after she left and the world is a poorer place now that she's left us completely.

It's lovely seeing a glimpse of the Blue Boar again, too - even through they head out of April's house in the exact opposite direction to the pub!! I'm pretty sure that's Chris Fry serving.

[booklover]

What a beautiful and delightful woman. I noticed people accepted her despite transgender people not having rights back then. This proves you don't need the law to tell you to be a decent person. You are capable of doing it on your own accord.

[orietrecknell]

I spoke to her in 1968 somewhere in Mayfair. She was absolutely stunning and so charming. Good on you April. You still look good. What I liked about her, she made no secret about her operation and she is not uncomfortable about it with any one.

[inhetbos]

This channel is Getting more and more iconic! BFI, you keep suprising me with one great gem of a video after another! Thank you ever so much for sharing all of this with us.

[TheJanemaryam]

Rest in peace mam April Ashley 29 April 1935 - 27 December 2021.

[emilycrawford]

I lived in America BFI Player said only work in UK I want watch this Film.

[calebcostigan]

I would really like to see this. A few months ago it told me I couldn’t watch it unless I was in the UK so I was going to change my VPN but now BFI is very glitchy.

[sahrabrownbrown]

I saw her last year Fulham road London istill beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[marshy]

She was lovely, even now, its much easier if youre well bred & passing. I'm lucky as only my husband knows. It must be hard for trans folk who stand out.

Sadly, there are still a lot of ignorant folk out there.

[gilesburrett]

Happy 😊 feminine energy many male bodied female's need assistance to transition this looks like success Happy for her 😀

[ceilconstante]

Interesting.
At the beginning when she's saying hello, she sounds like Mrs. Doubtfire

[ramonamom]

It is very nice to see and hear her again.

[damonoliverfitch]

What pub in hay on wye I wonder the blue boar ?

[Charlotte-tioq]

She looks amazingly sophisticated and elegant, definitely she would turn heads.

[tula]

Makes me sad to think about the TG erasure of TS. A medical condition which had strict rules is now overrun with heterosexual married men who think liking knickers makes them a woman. April Ashley, Tula Cossey and Christine Gorgenson were all actually TS!

[ValleyoftheRogue]

LOL that cross dressing dude mowing the lawn. Isn't that "unladylike"? Wearing drag clothes doesn't change the fact George was a man and died a man.

[ETIENNE]

She sounds superficial to me, nothing interesting about her