The Oscar-winning film “Danish Girl” tells the story of the first transgendered man in the history who was inspired and base on Lili Elbe's true story. 

Born as a male, the Danish painter Lili Elbe received several sex re-arrangement surgeries as one of the early surgery recipients. The portrait captured herself as a transgendered woman in 1926 (Knudsen), after receiving the surgery. 

In the era that she used to live in when sexuality other than heterosexual is diagnosed as an illness, many “health experts” diagnosed her sexual orientation and personal behaviors as problematic and unsound. 

Lili made a remarkable move by choosing her desired path and the gender identity that she craves for as a natural human being, without being limited by the traditional gender norms in society. Lili did not cater or please the society’s common misconceptions of her sexualities and discriminations towards her passions. She received multiple sex re-arrangement surgery and traded her courageous pursuit with death. Due to organ complications, she died after one of the surgeries.

Lili’s rebellious acts and messages were well-known by the people in that age too, base on the media of the press. Lili Elbe’s emancipation of personal identity, the resilience against constant criticism and social norms, and the power to transform fearlessly is still an inspiring story after the passing of one century.