Tag: Trans

Newcastle Social

Welcome to our new Venue as always Tea/coffee juice supplied pop-in for a chat or to make plans with friends. Transgender, Non-binary, Friends, family, Support, food, tea’s, coffee, fruit juice There is limited parking directly at the back of the building

Stafford Social/ Support

The Hub, 17 Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ. Plz note there maybe CIS people in the building this meeting is T & Non-binary only Plz, bring Ideas for future events DVDs, games, pizza Entrance is via community door access, which is under the archway turn left and go round the corner to find the door. Disabled access Toilets are ladies, gentleman and disabled which are next to the staff rest area and not open to the general public

What is the support like for Trans people in Stoke? Kirsty tells us her story…

Growing up in Stoke-on-Trent I was often teased and called gay and told to ring the Lesbian, Gay Switchboard. This I denied as I knew I fancied girls so I didn’t think I could be gay. My first memory at the age of 8 was of wearing female clothes but I could not bring myself to admit it was true as in the 1970s/80s being Transgender wasn’t spoke about. By age of 17 I had thought about coming out and even had a Transgender friend. When I first had the internet I started looking into Gender Dysphoria and realized the only way to be the true me would have been to move away from Stoke which tore me between family or being myself. I carried on dressing in secret for a few years. 
I first came out to an ex-boss   who seemed to welcome me dressing and even invited me around so I could dress at her house. Whenever I spoke to her about me wanting take HRT she wouldn’t talk to me. She suggested I phone the works medical service and talk  things through with them.  At this time I came across Gender Matters web-site and a link to Sanctuary Stoke and the LGBT Network Staffordshire. After attending my first few meetings (which I was too shy to take my coat off for!) I started to volunteer for the LGBT group. I started to find myself and I am now on HRT and attending GIC and starting to feel happy about myself for the first time in my life.

https://www.gaydio.co.uk/projectpride/stoke/trans-stoke-one-womans-story/

HMP Dovegate LGBT Pride Family day for prisoners & Staff 2nd May 2018

We were invited to take part in an LGBT Awareness Family Day at HMP Dovegate on Wednesday 2nd May 2018. The day involved awareness and issues around the LGBT community and was an opportunity for the prisoner’s families to come in and share the experience with the inmates who are part of the LGBT forum. Staffordshire Buddies and Trans Staffordshire were special guests and we presented our charity and what we do, as well as having and stand and giveaways for the staff and inmates.

Breast Screening

Walking up to the Breast screening centre in Hanley, I started feeling more nervous of getting in there. Inside there were 2 other women waiting. I went straight to counter and handed my questionnaire over, (posted out to me with the appointment) as I had met the nurse before it made things feel easier. (Most women who go haven’t met their nurse before, I was lucky I met her through my work, but people could ask beforehand.)

I was in reception for a minute before getting called through. Inside the small changing room there was a single chair on which I sat down. The nurse who was in the next room, checked my details, asked questions about the history of breast cancer in family, and asked me to lock the door I’d come through and take my top and bra off, then she shut the door to the machine room.

Then I took off my top and bra and waited feeling very uncomfy and holding my clothes against my chest. Then there was a knock from the internal door, and the nurse put her head around the door and asked me go into the machine room. In there she helped me relax, talking me through things and got me standing in front of the machine: She talked me through where to stand as she placed my left boob in the machine. She talked me through everything looking to the right, and where to put my arms, as she pressed the clamp button there was slight press on my boob and repeated on the right side.

Thinking “that was harmless” she then asked me stand to the left again and she rotated the machines scanning part and put a bigger plastic plate on it, again she put my left boob in the machine talking me though how to stand getting my hair out of the way, this time pressing the clamp button it squashed my boob sidewards. This time it was more painful but it was only like blood pressure arm wrap going tight again repeated on my right side. Then that was it, all over! She asked if everything was okay, if there was anything else I wanted to ask and she showed me the x-rays on screen as she explained it will take a couple of weeks for them get read and results posted to me. I then went back into the original side room to get dressed.

Over all I would say it was a pain free experience which took 20 minutes at the most out of 3 years of my life until I next get called to go.

5 star treatment all the way.