At the site of the Sexual Health Centre in Cork, we highlight the importance of the Centre’s ethos of ‘No Bias, No Judgement, No Exception’, especially in relation to addressing sexual inequalities and sexual health and providing a welcoming to all. The Sexual Health Centre provides “up-to-date information, support and education in the areas of Sexual Health, Well-being, Sexuality and Healthy relationships in an inclusive, welcoming and confidential environment”. We also connect with Gender Rebels Cork and the work of historians, writers, and activists on gender nonconformity, the trans movement, and trans-specific history, who place Dr James Barry as a significant figure in that history (such as Doyle, 2019).
Sexual Health Centre
The Sexual Health Centre is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was established in July 1987 as Cork AIDS Alliance. Originally situated at 16 Peter’s Street, they are now open at their new home at 18 South Mall, bringing sexual health to the heart of the city.
The centre provides high-quality, professional, inclusive services on relationships, wellbeing, HIV, and sexual health. The staff's objective is to eliminate obstacles to the use of support services and enhance the accessibility of screening and reproductive health assistance for the residents of Cork. The diverse and knowledgeable team collaborates to promote the perception of sexual health as an essential component of life for all people. The Sexual Health Centre provides a wide range of services such as STI Advice, Sexual Health Workshops, Support for people living with HIV, One-on-one counselling for people experiencing crisis pregnancy, Free rapid HIV testing, Free condoms and Free pregnancy tests. These services are provided to both groups and individuals.
The Sexual Health Centre also provides support, services, and referrals specifically directed towards women, including Crisis pregnancy counselling, Free sanitary products, Free condoms and HIV tests for Sex Workers, pregnancy tests, and information on contraception.
Website: https://www.sexualhealthcentre.com/
Gender Rebels Cork
An important support organisation in Cork is Gender Rebels who provide “safe and accepting spaces for transgender, intersex, and non-binary individuals to connect, share experiences, and build a supportive community”. Gender Rebels define the organisation as a compassionate group that offer peer-driven support to the transgender, non-binary, and intersex community of Cork.
Established in 2017, our mission is to create a nurturing environment for trans adults, providing guidance and empowerment as they navigate their authentic journeys. We are dedicated to advocating for equitable recognition and healthcare, educating the public about transgender issues, and fostering inclusivity. As active members of the LGBTI+ InterAgency Network hosted by Cork City Council, we prioritize community involvement and the sharing of experiences to boost confidence and support within the trans community.
Website: https://genderrebels.ie/
Dr. James Barry
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Who was James Barry?
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While most of James Barry’s early life is grounded in uncertainty, he is believed to have been born under the name Margaret Buckley on Merchant’s Quay in Cork in c. 1789 (see Egan, n.d.).Having been assigned a female at birth, Barry chose to live and identify exclusively as a man. After qualifying as a doctor at Edinburgh University in 1812 and a surgeon in 1813 before the College of Surgeons in London, Dr James Barry entered the army at the age of 14 (The National Archives, 2024). He became a leading doctor with a distinguished career as an army surgeon who travelled around the world with the British Army to places including “Jamaica, St Helena, Barbados, Corfu, Malta, Antigua, Trinidad, Crimea and Canada” (Ellyse, 2023: 0:22).
In 1817, Dr James Barry was sent to the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) as “a medical officer, and went with the Governor, Lord Charles Somerset, to inspect the frontier settlements” (The National Archives, 2024: p. 7). He was then appointed physician to the Governor’s household in 1818, became Assistant Staff Surgeon in 1822 and Surgeon of the Forces in 1827 (ibid.). During his time in South Africa, it is believed that Barry carried out the first successful cesarean in which both the mother and child survived (see The National Archives, 2024; Ellyse, 2023; and Egan, n.d.).
Dr James Barry prioritised the treatment of the economically dispossessed and socially marginalised and was a relentless advocate for increased sanitation and raising the standard of medical care. He was respected by other doctors and soldiers alike, as described in the Uncovering LGBT+ Lives in Archives series: “his skills were well-known and often praised” (Ellyse, 2023: 1:06). In 1857, Barry was promoted to the highest rank in the army as Inspector General of Hospitals in the British colony of Canada (The National Archives, 2024). Throughout his career, he continued to reform living conditions for soldiers, prisoners, and those suffering from leprosy, saving countless lives (ibid.).
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(photo credit: Orla Egan, Cork LGBT Archive)
After 50 years of service, Dr James Barry returned to England after contracting a severe case of bronchitis in 1859. He arrived in March 1860 after a difficult sea voyage (The National Archives, 2024). Here, he lived out the rest of his days until his death in July 1865.
After-death wishes
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James Barry repeatedly spoke of his after-death wishes. That is, he did not want his body examined and stated that if he were to pass away, he wanted to be buried in whatever clothes he died in. Upon his death, a former servant who attended the corpse saw Barry’s body and realised it was a female body (Ellyse, 2023). In a letter from Dr McKinnon in reply to George Graham, in 1865 (WO 138/1), it was mentioned that a woman “seemed to me to think that she had become acquainted with a great secret and wished to be paid for keeping it” (The National Archives, 2024: p. 36). When the former servant did not get the money, she went to the press and sold the story.
Details of Dr James Barry’s life dominated headlines, violating his after-death wishes and privacy. For instance, a Daily Mail newspaper extract from 1910 (WO 25/2910) publicly reported the story of James Barry as part of an exposé of ‘women who pose as men’ almost 50 years after his death—please note that the tone and language used in the article are of their time and unacceptable today (The National Archives, 2024: p. 40). Other sources from the National Archives show us how Barry's biological sex was a matter of discussion amongst some of his contemporaries (see Letter from George Graham, Registrar General at General Register Office to Staff Surgeon D.R. McKinnon, 23 August 1865, Catalogue ref: WO 138/1; Extract from a letter from Dr McKinnon in reply to George Graham, 24 August 1865, Catalogue ref: WO 138/1).
A significant figure in Trans-specific history
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Historians, writers and activists on the trans movement and trans-specific history, such as Doyle (2019), place Dr James Barry as a significant figure in that history. As Doyle wrote: “Lives like James Barry’s are fascinating precisely because they reveal how trans and gender-nonconforming people have navigated, embodied, and survived gender across historical and cultural contexts.” (2019: para. 10). While Barry lived during a period where apt language had not yet been coined, his lived experiences indicate something that members of the trans community resonate with (Ellyse, 2023).
While it is important to remember the many women who were overlooked in history, it is equally important to recognise that Barry wished to be remembered for his accomplishments and the improvements he made during his time in the Army. Throughout his life, Barry fought for his reputation and status, and only in death has his sex been speculated upon publicly and repeatedly. As Westrop wrote, James Barry “asked for his wishes to be respected after death, and he was violated in an unforgivable way. And this violation continues today” (2019: F Yeah History).
The importance of archives
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Archives, like the National Archives and Cork LGBT Archive, related to Dr James Barry, can reveal the power of trans-specific history and its importance for identity. While these documents typically expose the injustices, they are also important because they highlight the existence of LGBTQ+ lives throughout history. Sometimes, these histories appear to be “hiding in plain sight,” and other times, they are more difficult to find (The National Archives, 2024: p. 2).
Acknowledgement: Many thanks to the support and contribution of Kevin Hosford, the Chairperson of Gender Rebels, and Tara Whelan and Martin Davoren at the Sexual Health Centre, all of whom supported and co-authored this text.
References
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Doyle, J. (2019) “The Trans Take”: Towards a Transgender Public HistoryJ [online]. Available from: https://medium.com/@jackdoyle_76250/the-trans-take-towards-a-trans-public-history-deb1bc9d822b [Accessed 6 June 2024].
Dr Mckinnon. (1865) Extract from a letter from Dr McKinnon in reply to George Graham, 24 August [Letter]. The National Archives. Catalogue ref: WO 138/1.
Egan, O. (n.d.) Dr. James Barry [Still image]. Source: Cork LGBT Archive. Available from: https://corklgbtarchive.com/exhibits/show/jamesbarry/item/328 [Accessed 5 March 2024].
Ellyse, B. (2023) Dr James Barry - Uncovering LGBTQ+ Lives in the Archives. Youtube [online]. Source: The National Archives UK. Available from: https://youtu.be/V-ts51_aWP8 [Accessed 6 June 2024].
Graham, G. (1865) Letter from George Graham, Registrar General at General Register Office for the registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales, to Staff Surgeon D.R. McKinnon, 23 August [Letter]. Source: The National Archives. Catalogue ref: WO 138/1.
The National Archives. (2024) Dr James Barry: Why was he significant in 19th century medicine? Key Stages 3-4| Empire and Industry 1750-1850, Victorians 1850-1901 Lesson pack [online]. Available from: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/dr-james-barry/ [Accessed 6 June 2024].
Westrop, S. (2019) Dr James Barry and the erasure of LGBTQ+ history [online]. Available from: https://fyeahhistory.wordpress.com/2019/03/07/dr-james-barry-and-the-erasure-of-lgbtq-history/
[Accessed 6 June 2024].
(1910) Extract from the Daily Mail entitled ‘Women who pose as men: An army Surgeon’s Career’, 27 August. [Image]. The National Archives. Catologue ref: WO 25/391.
