“Memories of a Sex Change” by Claudia Alejandra is a profound and intimate journey into the life of one of Chile’s earliest transgender pioneers. Written by Claudia Angélica Valenzuela Leiva, the book offers readers a window into the challenges, fears, and triumphs of a transgender woman navigating a world that often refused to recognize her truth. Claudia’s story begins long before her gender-affirming surgery on June 16, 1975, at the Portales Clinic, a time when she still carried masculine characteristics and was known as Roberto Antonio. From her earliest memories, she struggled with the question that would shape her life: was he a man or a woman? The book captures the complexity of these formative years, her internal conflicts, and the social pressures that surrounded her. Claudia recounts her childhood with honesty and sensitivity, revealing the vulnerability and courage that would later define her journey.
