Trans Stories

James, 19 years

I love black! i love darkness and my idea of prettyful is different to most peoples it would seem. i have a dark sense of humour. i love reading, writing, drawing, painting, and computers. internet addict!!! i came out without realising when i was 8-9-ish?, everyone at high school called me a man beast, trannie dyke, etc. i came out to friends when i was 16. and my mum found out about me by raiding my room and reading letters i had tried to write to her when i was 17. i was basically destroying myself. i had to lie to everyone i met, on the streets, my family, collegues, friends, etc, pretending to be a girl. And it was killing me. i came out as bi at first because i was afraid. i am bi as well. but being trans seemed shunned aside even within the gay community. but i realised to be myself, and not live in fear that my transsexualism might be discovered, i had to own up and be myself. my mums dealing with it best she can...it's not easy for her because of the way she was brought up, but she basically deals with it by pretending everythings normal and nothings happened. she flips a bit everytime i get my hair cut. My manager at work has been fine with it and lets me wear male uniform. i lost a few friends but made more and found more women attracted to me! GALYIC has saved my life. Before i came to group I couldn't cope at all, and now im still alive and moving on. Also Jan needs a mention here, without her support i would be dead. She was the first person who has actually ever listened to me and took me seriously, went away did some research, and helped me so F^*(^&ING much! (thanks jan). i have also got involved in so much stuff since; ive been on residentials, pink picnic, worked on publicity for group, worked on this website, made the trans youth NHS booklet (its available on here aswell), joined a project funded by gendered intelligence called scidentity, helped out at transfabulous...the list really does go on... point being - Once you accept yourself, you've got no limits. **** Gender is the universe and we are the stars ****

Tanisha, 22 years

I'm not out but my friends know I'm different (not straight) and the time I clicked that I was different was when I was about 10 years old. The first person who realised I was different was my best friend, they guessed because they were also different like me. We didn't tell each other that we were gay, and there wasn't a reaction. We supported each other continuously through friendship and a bond that has helped us realise who we are. Now, from being part of GALYIC and the support I have been given, I have realised my true identity as an Asian Transgender.

Annie, 19 years

I came out as trans at 19. The first people I told were the LGBT society at university, then my dad and step-mum. Dad was shocked at first and I gave him time and he said he kinda knew.