Avery Edison Comedian from UK Country: Great Britain

1. Avery Edison: A Comedian's Journey to Acceptance and Advocacy
2. Early Life and Transition
3. The Incident in Toronto
4. Advocacy and Reflection

Avery Edison: A Comedian's Journey to Acceptance and Advocacy

Avery Edison, a comedian from the United Kingdom, became the center of attention when Canadian immigration officials in Toronto placed her in a shared male prison cell. The confusion arose from Avery being transgender. Although her British passport and appearance indicated her identity as a woman, she had not yet undergone the final stage of gender reassignment surgery - the removal of her penis. Consequently, after reviewing her documents and holding a brief consultation, immigration officers decided that Avery would spend the next few hours in confinement, alongside male inmates. Fortunately, Avery's story ended happily as she was released unharmed, but the incident prompted serious repercussions for the immigration service, including potential dismissals. Interestingly, Avery's case became a catalyst for liberal politicians to advocate for a new set of laws that would protect the rights of individuals who have transitioned, granting them specific privileges such as private cells and individual restroom facilities.

Early Life and Transition

Avery Edison was born in 1989 in the United Kingdom. After completing high school, she made the brave decision to undergo gender reassignment. Following a series of mandatory interviews in several countries, including the UK, she embarked on her journey by undergoing surgeries and taking a range of hormonal medications. Simultaneously, Avery, always interested in literature and the English language, began writing for various websites, eventually finding her calling in the world of comedy. Her fame grew after her gender transition and the final addition of her new female name and "F" under the "gender" section of her passport, replacing the British coat of arms.

The Incident in Toronto

In February 2014, Avery was returning home from Canada but missed her flight departing from Toronto's Pearson International Airport. During the document check, it was discovered that Avery had exceeded the maximum number of days a British citizen could stay in Canada without the required permission, namely a visa. Although this offense is usually not considered serious and is typically met with a fine, immigration officers found themselves bewildered by Avery's unique physical constitution. Consequently, she underwent a thorough examination in a separate room, and her only means of communication with the outside world was her phone, which she used to write messages on her Twitter microblog. Many of her messages were filled with irony and even a hint of sadness towards the immigration officers who seemed clueless about where to place her. Avery jokingly remarked, "It seems like this whole story would make good material for a comedy show!" As time went on, however, her mood deteriorated, and her optimistic outlook began to fade. The situation became particularly distressing when the officers asked Avery to undress in order to fully assess her situation. She spent several hours in a male cell due to her remaining genitalia, which she referred to as a "rudiment."

Advocacy and Reflection

After her release, Avery expressed her belief that Canada needed to seriously reconsider its laws regarding transgender individuals. However, it was American politicians who showed the most interest in preventing a similar mishap and considering measures to improve the lives of individuals who have undergone gender reassignment surgeries. Avery's experience served as a wake-up call, prompting them to explore ways to make the lives of transgender people just a little bit easier.