Laurence Michael Dillon was a British physician and the first female-to-male transsexual to undergo phalloplasty.

In 1939, while known as Laura Dillon, he sought treatment –and hormones soon made it possible for him to pass as male.

A plastic surgeon performed a double mastectomy and provided Dillon with a doctor’s note that enabled him to change his birth certificate. He also put him in touch with surgeon Harold Gillies, who had previously reconstructed penises for injured soldiers and performed surgery on people with ambiguous genitalia.

In the late 1940’s, Gillies performed 13 surgeries on Dillon.

When news of his surgery leaked, the attention led Dillon to flee to India, where he studied Buddhism and wrote. Forced to leave when his visa expired, he died in May 1962.

“The Rainbow Minute” is produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns at WRIR in Richmond, Virginia, and read by volunteers like me, John Porter.

In recognition of the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, “The Rainbow Minute” is committed to bringing to light the often under-represented history of the transgender community by featuring 10 new episodes during the month of November.  “The Rainbow Minute,” a radio show on WRIR, Richmond Independent Radio, is produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns and airs on 97.3 FM every Weekday at 9:03am, 12:30pm and 4:30pm.  Listen to the WRIR’s audio stream here.

The Rainbow Minute is produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns and airs on 97.3 FM, WRIR Richmond Independent Radio, every Weekday at 8:59am, 12:30pm and 4:30pm. Listen to the WRIR’s audio stream here.