The big difference is that Jorgensen coded as "passing", i.e. "a blonde beauty". It was a novelty story, most people didn't "accept" it as much as shrugging and saying "wow that's something new." Had it started a trend, spilling into everyday experience, it would've played out then like it has now.

and the fact that it didn't become a widespread trend in the 50's tells you everything about how "tolerated" it really was. Almost nobody dared try it, they'd have been ostracized and probably assaulted.