Georgina Beyer & Cathy Casey - Change for the Better

1999, Cathy Casey, English, Georgina Beyer, New Zealand,

Full title: "Change for the Better: The Story of Georgina Beyer as Told to Cathy Casey" by Georgina Beyer and Cathy Casey.

"George Bertrand was born in 1957, an ordinary boy who was to become an extraordinary woman. As he grew up, George realised he was a woman trapped inside a male body. Once he discovered that men could live as women, Georgina Beyer was born. This book follows that difficult rebirth, Georgina's time working in the sex industry in the 70s and 80s, a brutal rape in Sydney and her liberation by a sex change operation in 1984.

Since then, Georgina has achieved acclaim as an actress, including a nomination for a GOFTA award for best actress in 1987, has tutored unemployed youth in drama, was elected to the Carterton District Council in 1993, and became the first transsexual mayor in the world in 1995."

According to Wikipedia, Georgina Beyer (1957–2023) was a New Zealand Labour Party politician who served as a member of parliament. In 1995 she was elected mayor of Carterton, making her the world's first openly transgender mayor.

In 1999 she became the world's first openly transgender member of parliament. As a member of the Labour Party Beyer supported progressive policies including prostitution law reform, civil unions, anti-discrimination laws and the promotion of Māori rights. She resigned in 2007, and in 2014 unsuccessfully stood for election on behalf of the Mana Party. In 2001 she was featured in "Georgie Girl", a documentary directed by Annie Goldson and Peter Wells.

In 1979, she experienced a traumatic sexual assault in Sydney and was devoid of support from the police, which led her to think about a political career. On her return to New Zealand she began seeking work as an actor with increasing success, culminating in a GOFTA award nomination for best female performance for the television drama Jewel's Darl in 1987.

In 1984, Beyer underwent gender-affirming surgery. She became a part of the Wellington gay nightclub scene, initially as a singer and drag queen performer, and later as a sex worker. After moving to Carterton, in the Wairarapa, she worked as a radio host.  Then she started her career in politics. She died on 6 March 2023 at the Mary Potter Hospice in Wellington, at age 65.

Available via Amazon

Photo via parliament.nz