Lily McBeth, teacher who became reluctant symbol of transgender rights movement, dies at 80

Published January 08, 2015

The teacher whose battles with school boards in conservative areas of New Jersey made her a reluctant symbol of the transgender rights movement has died. Lily McBeth was 80.

Her daughter says McBeth died Sept. 24 near her home in Little Egg Harbor after a long illness.

The former William McBeth had sex reassignment surgery in 2005. The schools' decisions the following year to keep her on as a substitute were hailed around the nation as a model of tolerance and acceptance of transgender Americans.

But she resigned in frustration in 2009 after getting only a handful of assignments.

McBeth's quest to keep teaching riled some parents but largely did not faze students.

Her daughter says McBeth only wanted to be herself.

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