Cate McGregor

{{Short description|Writer and former Australian Defence Force officer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Catherine Elizabeth McGregor{{cite news|first=Catherine|last=McGregor|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/prodigal-daughter-catherine-mcgregor-on-the-anzac-day-shell-never-forget/news-story/2b0e6abbb5aa3a3111b741b53e4f32f8|title=Return of the prodigal daughter|date=15 November 2019|work=The Australian|access-date=20 May 2020}}

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|05|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia{{cite news|url=http://www.aww.com.au/latest-news/real-life/being-transgender-the-secret-i-kept-for-50-years-16877 |title=Being Transgender: The secret I kept for 50 years |date=11 April 2015 |work=Australian Women's Weekly |accessdate=28 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411012330/http://www.aww.com.au/latest-news/real-life/being-transgender-the-secret-i-kept-for-50-years-16877 |archivedate=11 April 2015 }}

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| education = BA (Hons) MA{{cite web|title=Lt Col Cate McGregor|url=http://acmhnconferences.acmhn.org/speakers|publisher=39th International Mental Health Nursing Conference|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219031205/http://acmhnconferences.acmhn.org/speakers/|url-status=dead}}

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| occupation = Commentator, legal student, activist

| known_for = Writing, military service, gender transition

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Catherine McGregor {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}} is a prominent Australian writer, commentator and former Australian Defence Force officer.{{cite magazine|last=Cronan|first=Mattie|date=20 June 2019|title=Cate McGregor: happy in her skin at last|url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-australian-womens-weekly/20190620/282789242955074|magazine=The Australian Women's Weekly|location=Sydney|publisher=Bauer Media Group|access-date=20 May 2020}}

She has worked as an Australian Army Officer, as a cricket commentator and writer, and as a speechwriter to former New South Wales Labor Premier Bob Carr, former Federal Labor Party leader Kim Beazley and to the 1993 Liberal Party election campaign.

Gender transition

McGregor stated that she was diagnosed as transgender in 1985, following a prolonged period of alcohol and drug abuse, but it was not until 2012 that she, in her own words, "repudiated... [her] birth sex". While McGregor's father died, aged 42, in 1964 from a brain tumour, her mother survived him until 1992 and McGregor considered that transition would have "appalled" them and therefore chose not to transition until just after her 56th birthday. Following a crisis in November 2011 McGregor felt she had to commit to this path of transformation if she wanted to survive. Even after transition, McGregor stated her brother (now deceased) refused to recognise her as female, and that her pre-transition 2001 marriage to her wife ultimately broke down (they divorced in 2016) as a result of her decision to transition.

McGregor completed gender reassignment surgery in her early 60s and takes oestrogen. She has stated she is not attracted to men.

Military

McGregor joined the Australian Army as an Officer Cadet at the Royal Military College Duntroon on 14 January 1974, where she spent the next four years, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at the end of 1977.{{cite web|title=Catherine McGregor|url= https://www.npc.org.au/speaker/2015/234-catherine-mcgregor|publisher=National Press Club of Australia|access-date=12 May 2020}} McGregor went on to serve in a number of junior command appointments in the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane, and in an Instructor appointment at the Army's Jungle Training Centre in Canungra.

In the early 1980s, not long after being promoted to captain, McGregor resigned from the Army (later working for law firms McClellands and Sparke Helmore as an articled clerk, and for the Labor Party and Liberals as a speechwriter), before deciding to return to the Australian Army in 2001 after wanting to seek an operational deployment to East Timor (Timor-Leste).{{cite web|title=Caroline Overington - Cate McGregor - The Secret I Kept for 50 Years|url= https://www.carolineoverington.com/cate-mcgregor---a-50-year-secret|publisher=Caroline Overington|access-date=12 May 2020}}{{cite news|url= https://www.smh.com.au/national/cate-mcgregor-on-leaving-malcolm-mcgregor-behind-and-becoming-a-woman-20140224-33d40.html|title=Cate McGregor on leaving Malcolm McGregor behind and becoming a woman|date=25 February 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=12 May 2020}}{{cite magazine|last=Allman|first=Kate|date=February 2017|title=The All-Rounder|url=https://d1lx47257n5xt.cloudfront.net/188622/data/common/downloads/publication.pdf?Signature=Cg28lUyJmR7nku1I~3YqPnE~s48IIqrJPCsvYT7dOrm~aV5hbV~w3rYNhc8K51qMpZPWPvRECFsQv0X7qGEB7~baiMPHGMJZNNB1fnQXWPr4gyTQiIcACjxvIZHL2Dz0oQYcWhH3OFg7pWDshT9h0SnKC~kG-SEMZBmJSG6wmpc_&Policy=eyJTdGF0ZW1lbnQiOlt7IlJlc291cmNlIjoiaHR0cCo6Ly9kMWx4NDcyNTduNXh0LmNsb3VkZnJvbnQubmV0LzE4ODYyMi9kYXRhL2NvbW1vbi9kb3dubG9hZHMvcHVibGljYXRpb24ucGRmIiwiQ29uZGl0aW9uIjp7IkRhdGVMZXNzVGhhbiI6eyJBV1M6RXBvY2hUaW1lIjoxNTg5OTA5ODgxfX19XX0_&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJHHI2UARJWNSOBCQ|magazine=Law Society of NSW Journal|location=Sydney|publisher=The Law Society of New South Wales|access-date=20 May 2020}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

After re-joining the Army, and having deployed to East Timor, McGregor went on to serve in a number of staff appointments at Army Headquarters, including acting as speechwriter to the Chief of Army between 2001 and 2014. It was in this role that she worked for Lieutenant General David Morrison who served as Chief of Army between June 2011 and May 2015. McGregor wrote the script for the famous 12 June 2013 call-out message on YouTube in which Morrison told Army personnel that if they weren't willing to respect, and work with, women in the Army they should "get out". This message was prompted by repeated high-profile incidents of unacceptable behaviour towards women by serving Army members.{{cite web|title=Chief of Army LTGEN Morrison message about unacceptable behaviour |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaqpoeVgr8U |publisher=YouTube |access-date=20 May 2020}}{{cite news|last=Thomsen|first=Simon|date=29 November 2016|title=The former Army chief whose angry video went viral withdraws from speech after claims he knew of abuse for 11 months|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-former-australian-army-chief-whose-angry-video-went-viral-has-withdrawn-from-a-speech-following-claims-he-knew-of-abuse-for-11-months-2016-11|work=Business Insider Australia|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-date=29 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129230419/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-former-australian-army-chief-whose-angry-video-went-viral-has-withdrawn-from-a-speech-following-claims-he-knew-of-abuse-for-11-months-2016-11|url-status=dead}} On Australia Day 2012, McGregor, then Lieutenant Colonel, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division for "exceptional service to the Australian Army as the Director of the Land Warfare Studies Centre".{{cite web|title=Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Gerard McGregor|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1145198 |publisher=Government of Australia|access-date=20 May 2020}}

When McGregor advised David Morrison of her intent to transition and offered her resignation, Morrison "refused to accept her resignation".{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/transgender-lieutenant-colonel-cate-mcgregor-speaks-out-about-abuse-and-support/story-fncynjr2-1226674523255 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107143902/http://www.news.com.au/national/transgender-lieutenant-colonel-cate-mcgregor-speaks-out-about-abuse-and-support/story-fncynjr2-1226674523255 |archive-date=7 November 2013 |title=Transgender Lieutenant Colonel Cate McGregor speaks out about abuse and support |publisher=News.com.au |date=5 July 2013}} McGregor went public with her transition in November 2013 and as a result became the highest ranking transgender person in the Australian Defence Force at that time.{{cite web|title=One Plus One (Video) |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/one-plus-one-lieutenant-colonel-cate-mcgregor/4802564 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524074854/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/one-plus-one-lieutenant-colonel-cate-mcgregor/4802564 |archivedate=24 May 2015 }}

Following her public revelation in 2013, there followed a number of acrimonious social media exchanges about McGregor, in which McGregor took an active part, that led to her being formally counselled by the Australian Defence Force for conduct that reflected poorly on her judgment{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/transgender-lieutenant-colonel-cate-mcgregor-counselled-after-online-outburst/story-fncynjr2-1226730234303|title=Transgender Lieutenant Colonel Cate McGregor counselled after online outburst|date=30 September 2013|work=News Ltd|accessdate=28 January 2016|archive-date=14 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214123522/http://www.news.com.au/national/transgender-lieutenant-colonel-cate-mcgregor-counselled-after-online-outburst/story-fncynjr2-1226730234303|url-status=dead}} and for which the Department of Defence made a payment in compensation to a complainant.{{cite news|url= https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/compensation-funding-legal-battle-against-defence/news-story/89319a72bd78ad5cdc4da2fd96f58a36|title=Compensation funding legal battle against Defence|date=25 January 2016|work=The Australian|access-date=12 May 2020}} McGregor subsequently decided to leave the Army, transferring to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Reserve on 20 June 2014 as a Group Captain, to work on projects for the Chief of Air Force.{{cite news|title=Special invitation to share her story|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/5611/5611.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011744/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/5611/5611.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=14 October 2014|work=Air Force|publisher=Royal Australian Air Force|date=19 June 2014|page=7}} McGregor is no longer employed by the Air Force.

Military honours and awards

{{center|

File:AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg

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class="wikitable"
File:AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg	Member of the Order of Australia (AM)	26 January 2012
File:Australian Service Medal ribbon.png	Australian Service Medal
File:DLSM with Rosette x 2.png	Defence Long Service Medal	(25–29 years of service)
File:Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png	Australian Defence Medal

Cricket

From 2011 McGregor has been a cricket writer for The Spectator,{{cite web |url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/7380768/diary-532/ |title=Malcolm McGregor |work=The Spectator |date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229104135/http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/7380768/diary-532/ |archive-date=29 December 2013}} a cricket commentator for The Australian,{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/Cate+McGregor|title=Stories by Cate McGregor, Cricket writer |work=The Australian|accessdate=28 January 2016}} and the Australian Financial Review,{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/how-malcolm-became-cate/4388164 |title=How Malcolm became Cate amidst a passion for cricket and war |publisher=Radio National, Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 November 2012}} and the author of a book, An Indian Summer of Cricket, published on 24 November 2012.{{cite book |url=http://www.echobooks.com.au/barrallier-books/barrallier-books-shop/indian-summer-cricket |title=An Indian Summer of Cricket |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222115016/http://www.echobooks.com.au/barrallier-books/barrallier-books-shop/indian-summer-cricket |archive-date=22 December 2015 |publisher=Barrallier Books |year=2012 |isbn=9780987168559}} In a 2012 review, Tony Abbott, then federal Leader of the Opposition, described the book as "the best sort of book about sport" for "those who think that sport can be a metaphor for life". Abbott called the Chief of Army's launch of the book "a fitting salute to [moral] courage"{{cite web |url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/australia-books/8769551/tradition-meets-change/ |title=Tradition meets change |author=Tony Abbott |work=The Spectator |date=24 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229102853/http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/australia-books/8769551/tradition-meets-change/ |archive-date=29 December 2013 }}

In late 2016, McGregor resumed her cricket career playing for a Canberra women's cricket team, and stated she wished to play in the Women's Big Bash League.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/catherine-mcgregors-pitch-for-the-big-bash-at-60-boosted-by-win-in-first-cricket-match/news-story/b355c2a7f7f52d903523ef11ac1ec626 |title=Catherine McGregor's pitch for the Big Bash at 60 boosted by win in first cricket match |date=20 November 2016|work=News Ltd|accessdate=21 November 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/transgender-cricketer-catherine-mcgregor-sets-sights-on-selection-for-the-womens-big-bash-league/news-story/faf3caaf46b41fcb65b2723350f5559e |title=Transgender cricketer Catherine McGregor sets sights on selection for the Women's Big Bash League |author=Black, Sarah|date=20 November 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=21 November 2016}} It is reported that she uses hormone therapy, has high levels of oestrogen and no longer produces testosterone.

In December 2018, McGregor was dumped as an ABC cricket commentator, something which she described as having "unravelled" her life.

Queenslander of the Year

In 2015, McGregor was named as Queenslander of the Year, despite not living in Queensland,{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/canberra-thats-in-queensland/news-story/b08188fbdc1d425095ab839d9eeb49b2 |title=Cate McGregor's nomination: Canberra, that's in Queensland |author=Thomas, Hedley|date=29 January 2016|work=The Australian|accessdate=29 January 2016}} {{subscription required}} and as such became a finalist for 2016 Australian of the Year,{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-queensland-australian-of-the-year-catherine-mcgregor-lauded--for-her-work-as-diversity-champion/news-story/11f2e559c0ca6e9d62e63991b324df75 |title=Opinion: Australian of the Year Queensland finalist Catherine McGregor may raise eyebrows |author=Houghton, Des|date=9 January 2016|work=Courier Mail|accessdate=28 January 2016}} which was subsequently awarded to her previous commanding officer, David Morrison. She described the selection of Morrison as a "weak, conventional choice",{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/cate-mcgregor-said-choosing-david-morrison-as-australian-of-the-year-was-a-weak-conventional-choice/news-story/91a977dd1d5452c467e1010638fcd30a |title=Cate McGregor said choosing David Morrison as Australian of the Year was a 'weak, conventional choice' |date=27 January 2016 |work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=28 January 2016}} a comment for which she subsequently apologised.{{cite news|last1=Wroe|first1=David|title=Australian of the Year: Catherine McGregor sorry after saying David Morrison choice was 'weak'|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-of-the-year-catherine-mcgregor-says-david-morrison-choice-was-weak-20160127-gmf5g2.html|work=smh.com.au|date=27 January 2016}}

In December 2016 McGregor was removed from the Australian of the Year honour roll at her request. She has stated that the awards are a "farce" and that she regrets having accepted one.{{cite news|title=Catherine McGregor removed from Australian of the Year roll of honour|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-21/australian-of-the-year-removes-catherine-mcgregor-honour-roll/8139946|accessdate=22 December 2016|work=ABC News|date=22 December 2016}} McGregor has also argued that the awards are being used by activists.{{cite news|last1=Australian Associated Press|title=Catherine McGregor cut from Australian of the Year honour roll at own request|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/22/catherine-mcgregor-removed-australian-of-the-year-honour-roll-at-her-request|accessdate=22 December 2016|work=The Guardian|date=22 December 2016}}

Post-military career

McGregor was a regular commentator on Sky News and in The Australian.{{cite web|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/search/Catherine%20McGregor|title=Catherine McGregor|website=Sky News Australia|publisher=Sky News Australia|access-date=12 May 2020}}{{failed verification|date=March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/Catherine+McGregor|title=Catherine McGregor|website=The Australian|publisher=The Australian|access-date=12 May 2020}}{{failed verification|date=March 2022}}

McGregor was for a time, patron of Kaleidoscope Australia, a not-for-profit organisation focused on promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTI people in the Asia Pacific region.{{cite news|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/cate-mcgregor-appointed-as-patron-of-kaleidoscope-australia-human-rights-foundation/143340 |title= Cate McGregor appointed as patron of Kaleidoscope Australia Human Rights Foundation|date=26 November 2015|work=Star Observer|accessdate=30 January 2016}} In September 2016, however, McGregor was dropped as patron by Kaleidoscope Australia because of her criticism of the Safe Schools program.{{cite news|url=http://www.outinperth.com/catherine-mcgregor-speaks-safe-schools/|title=Catherine McGregor speaks out against Safe Schools|date=19 May 2016|work=Out In Perth|accessdate=6 September 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.samesame.com.au/news/14199/Catherine-McGregor-dropped-from-LGBT-group-over-anti-Safe-School-comments|title=Catherine McGregor dropped from LGBT group over anti-Safe School comments|date=6 September 2016|work=Same Same|accessdate=6 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910110255/http://www.samesame.com.au/news/14199/Catherine-McGregor-dropped-from-LGBT-group-over-anti-Safe-School-comments|archive-date=10 September 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/catherine-mcgregors-angry-response-kaleidoscope-australia-sacking/152607|title=Catherine McGregors angry response to Kaleidoscope Australia sacking|author=Power, Shannon|date=6 September 2016|work=Star Observer|accessdate=6 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907144118/http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/catherine-mcgregors-angry-response-kaleidoscope-australia-sacking/152607|archive-date=7 September 2016|url-status=dead}} In May 2018, McGregor declared she had been wrong to oppose the Safe Schools program. "It's an excellent program, and it saves lives... I should have been a supporter from the start... I regret that I wasn't... Young trans people need an ally... I could have helped, and I didn't, and I regret that".{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/kate-mcgregor-declares-herself-wrong-to-oppose-safe-schools/news-story/89acd91f3a5fff9bbd0ae44045403757 |title=Cate McGregor declares herself wrong to oppose Safe Schools |first=Caroline|last=Ovington|date=3 May 2018 |work=The Australian |access-date=3 May 2018}}

A 2018 production by the Sydney Theatre Company, Still Point Turning, is a dramatisation of the lives of McGregor and Royal Air Force helicopter pilot Ayla Holdom, who is also a transgender woman.{{cite news |last1=Galvin |first1=Nick |title=Parallel lives of courage |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/parallel-lives-of-courage-20180424-h0z6qt.html |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=25 April 2018}}