All About Women: Dianna Boileau

1972, Canada, Dianna Boileau, English,

Show: CBC series - All About Women
Release Year: 1972

Synopsis:

In a deeply revealing interview conducted by Margo Lane, Dianna Boileau, a trans woman who became Canada's first recipient of sex reassignment surgery in 1970, offers insight into her experiences and the complex nature of transsexual identity. Boileau’s story is one of struggle, self-discovery, and triumph, shedding light on the early days of gender identity exploration and the emotional and physical transformations she underwent. Filmed in May 1972, this interview was considered too controversial for broadcast at the time. It, along with other segments on topics like sexuality, abortion, pornography, and feminism, was recorded for a CBC series called All About Women, which was ultimately never aired.

 

Dianna Boileau (1929–2014) was a pioneering Canadian transgender woman, one of the first in Canada to undergo gender-affirming surgery. Born in Manitoba, she was assigned the name Clifford by her adoptive parents. After a diagnosis of transsexualism in her teens, Boileau began presenting as female in public by age 17, facing both family challenges and police intervention. In 1962, she gained attention following a fatal car accident, resulting in sensationalized media coverage of her gender identity. Afterward, she pursued feminizing hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries, including orchiectomy in 1969 and full genital surgery in 1970, which was the first publicly funded gender-affirming surgery in Ontario. Boileau's story became widely known through her 1972 memoir Behold, I Am a Woman, co-written with journalist Felicity Cochrane. The book received attention, and Boileau also made public appearances, including a CBC interview. However, after the book's release, she withdrew from the public eye and lived a private life. Boileau's legacy was recognized with a 2021 podcast series and a provincial plaque in 2023. She died in 2014.

 

The interview opens with a poignant question from Margo Lane, asking Dianna why she wanted to become a woman. Dianna reflects on her early childhood, describing how gender identity is often imposed upon individuals from a young age. "Even from infancy, I think that there's a forcible genderization placed upon us," she explains. She notes that societal expectations are established through remarks like “Doesn’t he look like his father?” or “Isn’t she cute?” which reinforce the gender binary. In Dianna’s case, these early gender norms clashed with her internal sense of self, although she did not yet understand why. Boileau recounts her childhood experiences, particularly during school years, when other children would notice her differences. While boys engaged in typical masculine activities like football and calisthenics, Dianna gravitated toward more traditionally feminine activities, such as skipping and swinging with the girls. Her classmates’ reactions were not kind, and she was harassed for not conforming to the gender roles expected of her. However, she was still unaware of her identity as a transsexual at this time. 

 

When Margo asks Dianna about her desire to become a woman, Dianna provides a powerful explanation of what it means to be a transsexual. She describes the experience of male transsexualism as a disconnect between the body and mind, where the individual’s psychological and emotional identity as a woman is at odds with their male physical characteristics. "I was a transsexual," Dianna states, emphasizing that the goal is not to change the mind to fit the body, but rather to adjust the body to align with the mind. Dianna then addresses a critical aspect of the transsexual experience: sexuality. She explains that prior to sex reassignment surgery, male transsexuals are typically asexual, not attracted to homosexuals, but to heterosexual males. However, due to their male anatomy, they cannot engage in the sexual relationships they desire with heterosexual men. This creates a complex emotional and sexual struggle for transsexual individuals, which is compounded by societal misunderstanding. 

 

As the conversation continues, Margo Lane touches on a topic that often causes confusion: the difference between transsexuals, transvestites, and homosexuals. Dianna clarifies these distinctions. While transsexuals desire a full transition to the opposite gender, transvestites are typically heterosexual men who derive sexual pleasure from dressing in women’s clothing without seeking to adopt a female identity. In contrast, homosexual men are biologically male and find sexual satisfaction in relationships with other men, without any desire for gender reassignment. This explanation helps clear up common misconceptions about gender and sexual identity, emphasizing that these concepts, while interconnected, are distinct and should not be conflated. 

 

Dianna’s journey was not without immense personal challenges. In her book, "Behold, I Am a Woman", she recounts a tragic car accident in which a close friend was killed. This traumatic event led to a period of deep introspection, during which Dianna realized that she had to confront her identity once and for all. Having dressed as a woman since the age of 17 with medical and parental approval, Dianna’s identity as a woman was already well-established in her social life. However, after the accident, she faced a moral and emotional crisis, grappling with feelings of responsibility and guilt, despite being legally exonerated. During this time, Dianna attempted sexual encounters with both a woman and a man to explore her sexuality, but both experiences failed to provide clarity. This period of confusion and self-doubt led her to pursue more information about transsexualism, eventually seeking help from medical professionals. 

 

Dianna’s search for answers took her to Dr. Leo Wallman, a doctor in New York who was associated with the Erickson Foundation, which studied transsexualism. Following Wallman’s advice, Dianna began hormone therapy to begin her transition. This process, which included chemical castration, was not available in Canada at the time. In fact, it was illegal to sterilize a male in Canada, so Dianna traveled to the United States to undergo an orchidectomy (removal of the testes). Upon returning to Toronto, Dianna sought further medical care to complete her transition. She became the first patient at the newly established Gender Identity Clinic at the Clark Institute of Psychiatry, sponsored by the University of Toronto. After undergoing extensive therapy for a year and a half, it was determined that Dianna was a suitable candidate for sex reassignment surgery. In April of 1970, she underwent vaginoplasty, becoming Canada’s first sex change patient. 

 

Dianna’s surgery marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. “I’ve been biologically a woman for two years,” she concludes. The process of transitioning was long, emotionally taxing, and fraught with societal challenges. Dianna’s journey was not just about physical change, but about reconciling her inner identity with her outer reality. It was a quest for wholeness, self-acceptance, and authenticity. Through her interview with Margo Lane, Dianna Boileau offers a candid and personal reflection on the complexities of gender identity and the transformative power of medical intervention. Her story challenges societal expectations, broadens the understanding of gender, and provides a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. In sharing her experiences, Dianna hopes to foster greater understanding and acceptance of trans individuals and to highlight the importance of supporting those on their own journeys of self-discovery and transformation.

 

via: youtube and wikipedia

Image credits: YouTube