Christopher Lee (activist)

Christopher “Christoph” Lee (September 4, 1964 – December 22, 2012) was a Chinese and Polish-American transgender activist,[1][2] and award-winning filmmaker in the San Francisco Bay Area community. He was also the co-founder of Tranny Fest, now called the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF).[3] In 2002 he was the first openly trans man Grand Marshal of San Francisco Pride. Lee’s death and the designation of his assigned gender at birth on his death certificate rather than his self-identified gender was the impetus behind the “Respect After Death Act” or AB 1577 Bill which was passed in California on September 26, 2014.[2][4][5]

Personal life

Christopher Lee was born in San Diego, California.[6] An obituary describes him as "a powerful and fierce two-spirit being" and "an integral part of the recovery community".[7] 

Activism

In 1997, Lee collaborated with Al Austin and Elise Hurwitz to establish Tranny Fest (later renamed the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival), the first transgender film and arts festival in the world.[6][3]

Death and memorial

Christopher Lee committed suicide on December 22, 2012, after suffering from depression and mental illness.[3][8] Community healing ceremonies, tribute film festivals, and LGBTQ archives were dedicated to his memory.[2] As Lee had not updated the gender on his birth certificate, the coroner labeled Lee as "female" on his death certificate, sparking legal controversy and debate. Lee's family presented documentation indicating that Lee self-identified as a "Female to Male transgender man".[2] With the support of the Transgender Law Center and Chino Scott-Chung, the "Respect After Death Act" or Bill AB 1577 was introduced to California Assemblywoman Toni Atkins. The bill’s mission was to help fill out death certificates for transgender people.[4] AB1577 was passed by California Governor Jerry Brown on September 26, 2014.[8]

Honors and awards

Lee was the first female-to-male transgender Grand Marshal of San Francisco Pride (2002).[3]

In June 2019, Lee was one of the inaugural fifty American “pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes” inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) in New York City’s Stonewall Inn.[9][10] The SNM is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history,[11] and the wall’s unveiling was timed to take place during the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.[12]

Filmography
  • Christopher’s Chronicles (1996)[13]
  • Trappings of Transhood (1997)[14]
  • Alley of the TrannyBoys (1998)[15]
  • Sex Flesh in Blood (1999)[16]

References
  1. admin. "Remembering Christopher Lee as Respect After Death Act takes effect | Transgender Law Center". transgenderlawcenter.org. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  2. "Remembering Christopher Lee, Achieving Justice for Our Loved Ones | Transgender Law Center". transgenderlawcenter.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  3. "The Bay Area Reporter Online | Memorials set for trans filmmaker Christopher Lee". Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  4. "5 Transgender Activists Who Blazed A Trail For The LGBT Community". NewNowNext. Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  5. "Male in Life, Female in Death: The Story of Christopher Lee's Death Certificate". Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  6. "Remembering Christopher | Dragon's Blood Rising". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  7. "Christopher Lee | Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community". www.apiqwtc.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  8. "Dragon's Blood Rising | Honoring the life and legacy of pioneering transgender filmmaker, Christopher Lee". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  9. Glasses-Baker, Becca (June 27, 2019). "National LGBTQ Wall of Honor unveiled at Stonewall Inn". www.metro.us. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  10. SDGLN, Timothy Rawles-Community Editor for (2019-06-19). "National LGBTQ Wall of Honor to be unveiled at historic Stonewall Inn". San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  11. "Groups seek names for Stonewall 50 honor wall". The Bay Area Reporter / B.A.R. Inc. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  12. "Stonewall 50". San Francisco Bay Times. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  13. "Christopher's Chronicles (1996) | Dragon's Blood Rising". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  14. "Trappings of Transhood (1997) | Dragon's Blood Rising". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  15. "Alley-of-the-Tranny-Boys - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  16. "Sex-Flesh-in-Blood - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
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