In this episode of "Trans History for Dummies", we explore the life of Michael Dillon, the first known trans man to undergo phalloplasty in the 1940s. The episode delves into Dillon's early life, his struggles with identity, and his groundbreaking medical journey. It highlights his interactions with key figures like Dr. George Foss and Sir Harold Gillies, and his eventual transition to a Buddhist monk named Jivaka. The episode underscores the importance of gender-affirming care and the challenges faced by trans individuals in history.

Further reading / sources:

• Wikipedia - good general overview of his life and transition:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dillon

• University of Aberdeen blog - “Laurence Michael Dillon: doctor, theologian, and trans pioneer”:
  https://www.abdn.ac.uk/students/student-channel/blog/laurence-michael-dillon-doctor-theologian-and-trans-pioneer/

• Beaumont Society - “Michael Dillon – the first trans man to undergo phalloplasty”:
  https://beaumontsociety.org/michael-dillon-the-first-trans-man-to-undergo-phalloplasty/

• History at Birmingham - “Trans Pioneers: Michael Dillon & Roberta Cowell”:
  https://blog.bham.ac.uk/historybham/lgbtqia-history-month-trans-pioneers-michael-dillon-roberta-cowell/

• Legacy Project Chicago - profile of Michael Dillon:
  https://legacyprojectchicago.org/person/michael-dillon

• Biographical exhibition (Oxford St Anne’s) - images and timeline:
  https://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/life-here/library/blog/michael-dillon/

• National Library catalogue entry for Self: A Study in Ethics and Endocrinology (his own book):
  https://catalog.nlm.nih.gov/discovery/fulldisplay?vid=01NLM_INST%3A01NLM_INST&docid=alma99315573406676&context=L

• PDF of Out of the Ordinary: A Life of Gender and Spiritual Transitions (modern biography about him):
  https://transreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-03-29_5c9e4337abd17_michael-dillon-out-of-the-ordinary-a-life-of-gender-a.pdf