Grace Bacon
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Grace Bacon began life in Swartz Creek, Michigan, in 1940.[1]. She began wearing women's clothes at a young age and identified with the transsexual and transvestite perspectives as presented by the story of Christine Jorgenson, the first gender affirmation patient in the United States [1]. Bacon continued to live in the closet while also living what she described as a normal high school life [1]
College and the Army
Bacon was a journalism student in college and sports editor at her school paper.[2]. She went on to form a photography and videography service for the local high school sports teams and weddings [2]. After three years Bacon sold the business to Saginaw Photo and dropped out of college [2]. Soon after, Bacon joined the Army and worked her way up to non-commissioned officer status while stationed in Germany [2]. Bacon looks back fondly on her three years in the Army, and especially the German culture [2]
Family Life and Career
Bacon married and had two children after her service, but she still managed to dress up occasionally.[1]. She found a job at General Motors as a paper-handler and worked her way up to manager of production control analysts [2]. She was eventually hired by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) where she served in various roles throughout her years [2]. At the end, Bacon had spent more than 20 years in these roles [2]. Bacon came out to her coworkers in the ‘70s and began crossdressing openly despite chastisement from management [1]. Bacon married again in 1991 during a break from social organizing [1]
Organizing and Activism
Bacon began calling in and was a frequent contributor to Dave Barber's radio program Flint Feedback in the early to mid-'70s.[1]. The program, a conservative-leaning shock-based talk show [3], is now looked upon as the beginning of the LGBTQ radio presence in Detroit given its frequent contributors and topics covering the culture [4]. Bacon formed a social and outreach group for transvestites and transsexuals in 1977 called Crossroads [2]. The operation was run out of a post office box and served as a place the community could get together and an alternative to the local Ballroom movement [2]. Crossroads became a location-based organization that moved around the Metro Detroit area [1] 8) and is still in operation today, now serving all members of the Detroit population in need [5]. After several years with Crossroads, Bacon moved to Cincinnati and started a similar organization called Crossport [2], also still in service but focused on LGBTQ needs [6]. She also helped organize the popular annual seminar and social weekend for transsexuals and transvestites called the Be All You Want to Be Weekend, which ran for 30 years [2]. Bacon remarried and took a break from organizing between the years 1991 and 2012 [1]
Influence
Bacon's work through Crossroads inspired several notable LGBTQ organizers, activists, and educators in the area. Most notably, Rachel Crandall-Crocker, founder of Transgender Michigan who started the International Day of Visibility in 2009.[2]. Bacon was also an inspiration for Gender-Identity Network Alliance board member Michelle Fox-Phillips [7] [2] and founder of the University of Michigan Gender Identity Clinic, Sandra Cole [2]. Samantha Rogers of Detroit Invasion also considers Bacon and Crossroads to be sources of inspiration [2]
Awards and Honors
The city of Ferndale, Michigan, awarded Grace Bacon with the Good Neighbor Award in November 2018.[8][2]. The Metropolitan Community Church – Detroit began recognizing November 14 as Grace Bacon Day in 2021, it was co-sponsored by Gender-Identity Network Alliance and Transgender Michigan [1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Michael, J. "MCC-D launches 'Grace Bacon Day' in honor of the 'mother of the Michigan Transgender Community'". Pride Source.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Teller, S. "Local transgender activist, founder of Crossroads receives good neighbor award". Ferndale Friends.
- ↑ Emery, A (5 July 2015). "Former flint radio host Dave Barber remembered as community watchdog". MLive.
- ↑ Retzloff, T (15 February 2019). "On the Radio". Queer Remembering. Queer Remembering.
- ↑ "Location & Hours – Crossroads of Michigan". Crossroads of Michigan.
- ↑ "Mission Statement". Crossport.
- ↑ "Gender-identity Network Alliance (GNA)". Gender-Identity Network Alliance.
- ↑ Proxmire, C. "Good Neighbors Honored in Ferndale". Oakland County Times.
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