Here we are presenting some personal profiles of a diverse selection of people in the trans community. Here, they can talk about themselves and their experiences of living as a transgendered person and about their journey. All views expressed here are the individuals’ own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of either Spirit Level or the wider community. For personal and privacy reasons, some of those profiles here may not contain their real names or images.
Some of our local members of the Trans community
Sally, 53
When I was in school in the 70s and early 80s, even not liking football as a boy put you into the ‘strange’ category. You were suspect, and not a part of the community. Pushed to the side and at best ignored. Heaven forbid anyone who was labelled with the ‘G’ word for if you did, life (if you survived) would not be worth living. What it was and what it meant to be gay wasn’t even a discussion as that would infect you with the gay virus.
All this, and being autistic (though I didn’t know it at the time) meant that I grew up quite naive. I wasn’t aware of anything on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, or that such a thing could even exist. It was only when I spotted an advert in the back of a national newspaper that I discovered other people might have the same feelings that I had had inside me for quite some time of being attracted to other clothes and pretty things. Not of feeling ‘gay’ or being attracted to other boys (I class myself as asexual), but of being different. It was still a hidden thing, a thing of shame that should never be spoken of.
Then I discovered a book called ‘From George to Julia’. I don’t know how it came into the house, but I found it read it, and it changed my life. It opened up a world of possibilities for me though it would be a long and often painful journey.
