Christopher Lee (activist)

Christopher Lee (September 4, 1964 – December 22, 2012) was an Asian-American transgender activist[1] and 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).[2] 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.[1][3][3][4]

Personal life

Christopher Lee was born in San Diego, California.[5] His biological family includes his father Curtis Lee, mother Helen Lee Rios, uncle Charles Thorne, sisters Sabrina Lim, Roberta Lee, Melinda Tolmie, and Lori VanSteenberge. Christopher also identifies with two other families who are the Scott-Chung family of Oakland, CA, and the Hadley Carranza family. The Scott-Chung family includes MeiBeck (Chino) and Maya Scott-Chung, their daughter Luna and MeiBeck’s (Chino’s) mother Teresa Chung. The Hadley Carranza family includes Jae Carranza/J Zapata, Cosmo Joseph Hadley Carranza and Lisa Marie Hadley. Lee was also in a relationship with his boyfriend, Spencer F.[6] 

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.[5][2]

Death and memorial

Christopher Lee committed suicide on December 22, 2012, after suffering from depression and mental illness.[2][7] His legacy was memorialized in the community through community healing ceremonies, tribute film festivals, and LGBTQ archives,[1] among others. After his death, legal controversy and debate was sparked when the coroner labeled Lee as "female" on his death certificate, due to his birth certificate never being updated. This opened up the conversation on how Transgender deaths can be rightfully documented on their death certificates. Lee’s family presented documentation on how Lee self-identified as “Female to Male Transgender Male.”[1] 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.[3] AB1577 was passed by California Governor Jerry Brown on September 26, 2014.[7]

Honors and awards

Lee was the first female-to-male transgender Grand Marshal of San Francisco Pride (2002).[2]

Filmography

  • Christopher’s Chronicles (1996)[8]
  • Trappings of Transhood (1997)[9]
  • Alley of the TrannyBoys (1998)[10]
  • Sex Flesh in Blood (1999)[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Remembering Christopher Lee, Achieving Justice for Our Loved Ones | Transgender Law Center". transgenderlawcenter.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Bay Area Reporter Online | Memorials set for trans filmmaker Christopher Lee". Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  3. 1 2 3 "5 Transgender Activists Who Blazed A Trail For The LGBT Community". NewNowNext. Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  4. ↑ "Male in Life, Female in Death: The Story of Christopher Lee's Death Certificate". Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  5. 1 2 "Remembering Christopher | Dragon's Blood Rising". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  6. ↑ "Christopher Lee | Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community". www.apiqwtc.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  7. 1 2 "Dragon's Blood Rising | Honoring the life and legacy of pioneering transgender filmmaker, Christopher Lee". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  8. ↑ "Christopher's Chronicles (1996) | Dragon's Blood Rising". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  9. ↑ "Trappings of Transhood (1997) | Dragon's Blood Rising". dragonsbloodrising.org. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  10. ↑ "Alley-of-the-Tranny-Boys - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  11. ↑ "Sex-Flesh-in-Blood - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
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