Lauraine and Lennette Lee

Lennette (b. 1947, at left) and Lauraine (b. 1941, at right) Lee are siblings who participated in the University of Minnesota’s “Transexual Research Project”* in 1967 to have gender affirming surgeries. They were the first known operations to be undertaken by siblings in medical history. After the surgery, Lauraine continued in her job as a cashier and secretary, while Lennette worked as a beautician. Both had long-lasting second marriages. In 2015, Lauraine recounted her experience: "After being female for 48 years I will tell you that my sister and I have not regretted one moment of that 48 years. Would I go through numerous surgeries, and endure all that pain and tears again? You ‘betcha,’ as life as a male would be unendurable and life would not be worth living … Due to my age, I can no longer fight the ‘good fight’ for people such as I and my sister. All I can tell you is if you are a Trans Person, any sacrifice and pain will be worth the reward of spending the rest of your life just being the ‘real you.’ May God Bless each of you special people and your quest for the life you deserve.”
 

*The word “transexual” in now considered an outdated and offensive term.