Welcome back to part 5 of this journey. This post is just before the covid outbreak. I was physically fit, I applied for the British Army Reserves for the Royal Signals. Everything was going so well. Little did I or the whole world would be about to crash. This post starts from around February 2020 and will bring us out to around late February/early February.

1/1/2020

February 2020

Okay, so we start off in February, Hormones have been going great, my boobs have grown considerably well, better than expected and the patches were great. I don’t think anything could go wrong with getting hold of the patches easy… Or so I thought! As always I would get about a month's worth which was two boxes. I would always be 2 weeks in front just in case my chemist couldn’t get hold of them. This was the case in February!

This meant booking an emergency appointment with my doctor as well the past records show my doctor and even clinic isn’t great at agreeing with me until I see them so I thought stuff it. I want a prescription brought up as I was there. When I saw him my doctor was a bit hesitant about prescribing me tablets for my hormones. My case was my liver levels have come down a lot, I was in front of my GP practice when it came to check up on my bloods and my body was the fittest it has ever been so my doctor had no reason not to. Bear in mind that a year before after losing a stone I was on the phone to my endocrinologist asking about tablets and the results was as long as my liver levels were at safe levels nI would be fine to switch. 

21st February 2020 (Day 1)

My advice if your doctor is a pain in the ass is to see them personally when switching rather than writing out a repeat prescription as when you are face to face I find it is rare they will say now. I am aware not all doctors are open-minded and still stuck in the past. Anyway, result I got my prescription and for 3 months I would stay on 1mg of estrogen for 3 months and see how much it would put my oestrogen levels up.

The Army Reserves

At that time I was also currently applying for the army reserves which was a frustrating process right from the very beginning. My advice for the army is to really research the roles you want to go in. I was unsure and the messing around I had to go through before I found the right place for me and the website is extremely confusing and frustrating giving inaccurate information about the roles that they offer. So one role thinks it was Cyber Security actually do not recruit for and you have to go through the government website for. Another role I think was for artillery did say on the website for the Reserves but when you enquired but it then it was on for regular. Eventually, I found a role that I felt suited me and that was for The Signals. I love technology overall so this was down my passon really. I managed to get through the mini-interview and onto a pre-assessment which I did well and managed to get my hands on an AS-80 Rifle. In that, we actually learned to strip down the weapon and put it together… I LOVED IT!!! I have been stripping down electronics and putting them back together since I was 7 years old this turned out to be an easy task for me. 

Anyway, the feedback I got was amazing and I was on top of the world could not be happier. It was a case of getting ready to book my assessment. I knew I would pass the fitness but I would have to adjust my training and run on the streets to hit the one and a quarter-mile in 11:30 Minutes that was set. Easy right? Nope because the next day I got home and I was rejected on medical grounds! So because I am currently transitioning this means I am medically unfit to perform army duties. The reason was that I would have to do regular checkups.

The issue is in the army reserves you are treated like you would be a regular soldier, which is wrong! The reason for this is because in the reserves you do 3 hours a week for me on a Tuesday night. I would have to do two sessions where I would have to spend a week away but in the UK as the role, I was applying for is UK based. So at no time would any of my transition excluding my operation recovery time would it affect the army. My bloods and hormone blocker injections have to be done every 3 months and would be done either on an alternative day or in the morning. At that point, I had been on the waiting list for 2 years and another year to wait! Something good did come of it though which might help you even if you’re not going to the army. So they requested my full medical history and they would be paying for it also. So because of my little understanding of my GP’s practice, they gave me everything from when I was a kid! This meant I had all correspondence from everyone that is involved with my transition, from Harrogate and even Leeds. Which would come in hand a year later. 

A week after I sent this off I got a reply on my army hub and their final decision was for me to be medically unfit they added that transitioning would be stressful generally… Yes, they were just automatically assumed everything. I was incredibly upset because I changed all my fitness around to cater for the army and to be told I would be fine then after going through all of that, to then be told its army policy which at that time did not state anywhere about this. This led to a massive downwards spiral in my mental health. 

This lead us to the start of May 2020 by then we were on a full lockdown which started at the end of March think it was the 23rd. That is where everything went tits up for my hormones!

It’s All Gone Tits up!

The biggest issue wasn’t just the army but it was the start of everything that could go wrong. So Laser Hair Removal stopped because of covid, which caused a massive issue on my journey. As for everyone that has followed my journey the laser was the last major thing on my goal list where I would be able to be myself and covid took it from me. I felt like I had been shot or stabbed. Like most people, I felt it would be over within a few weeks but no it wasn’t to be. I accepted my fate and stopped all hope of getting anywhere with my looks and my mental health just started to go on a spiral to where it would go out of control.

The biggest part was when yet to come, my clinic. Everything was going very well, even with my clinic but when June arrive that was when everything changed. GP/doctors were not seeing anyone and this also meant for who was going to inject my hormone blocker also? My and my dad spent ages. My clinic was well beyond useless and was not telling me who I could see and that my GP had not been turning up for work either, so alarm bells sounded there. 

My Dad’s clinic remains open and my clinic was a group of 3. The other one was based in my Dad’s surgery and they knew who I was and agreed to inject me with my blocker. They said if I need to I could see them again. Okay, cool problem sorted in case of next time… Nope not at all. Over the course of the lockdown, everything got worse. My doctor was still not turning up for work, which I later found out he was transferred to another clinic within that group, and doctors that were seeing to me was not even reading my notes and cancelling my prescription and at one point I went 2 weeks without my hormones. This was around August 2020 time. A month later came my second injection for my blocker… Yeah, that never happened. I rang them and they said they never had a nurse who could see me and was not who could. I rang the clinic that gave me the injection the last time around and they had no record of it and would not see me. After trying to sort something out I had no luck and come halfway through October 2020 I was 1 1/2 months overdue my blocker. By this time I decided to move to my Dad’s clinic. The only thing they were not and are still not doing is face to face appointments with the doctor. It was hard coming over as they lost all my notes and as I changed my name that meant a fresh NHS Number and a fresh NHS record. Yep, no one in the trans Community on Youtube tells you that so be prepared if they do. They said to me changing my name means a new identity. 

The GP I am assigned to had our first chat and honestly, he was the biggest prick ever. Like my Dad stopped me going down there and kicking off and apparently he is like this with everyone. So old decrepit and thinks he knows everything. Because they didn’t have my blood levels noted he would not go off what I was saying and would not reschedule either. He wouldn’t let me take my official documents down to get the admin guys to put it on the systems. However, I did this and asked to be seen by a different GP. That however changed everything. Because I had all my documents he looked at my recent bloods and he let me up to my estrogen. My advice is to take risks. Not all Gp’s know everything and the older generation based on my experience and other trans people I have spoken to are just stubborn and locked in old ways and old ways of thinking. Never budge and always ask for someone else if you’re made to feel comfortable, but also make your voice heard, especially if you have all official documentation. You will get nowhere else otherwise. 

Feb 2020 - April 2021 - Changes

The changes going from patches to pills really is wow! Mainly around the breast area. I measure with a friend and this came to a 40D. I need to get professionally measured. Part of me was overweight at the time… Still am at the time of writing this. My skin is softer, but another huge thing that changed is my hair. 

All changes can vary person to person. For me the pain I got from my Brest growing was very painful, and I have stretch marks also, I was recommended bio oil to help get rid of them and I noticed they also faded over time. I was surprised that the pain woke me up at night and went on for a couple of days. I can say I am happy now where I do not need my Brest foams anymore.

I have been taking biotin tablets from Holland and Barrett which cost me £20 (BUY ONE GET ONE FOR 1p) they was a high dose and wow they have worked. I think it will take another 2 years to get my hair back if it does but we shall see from here. I took a picture and compare from 2018 before I started hormones also. I have had a few people tell me they think my face has changed but I disagree and think it is down to when I have lost weight and put it back on. That is all I can report on. Again I really need to stress that hormones are not an overnight cure and the effects can take 2 years to full take effect. This can be soon and in other blogs I started to notice changes in weeks. I would also like to add for male to female hormones to my knowledge do not alter the pitch of your voice especially after puberty. This has to be trained unfortunately. 

That is it for this part. The next part will explore more on to the clinic side and will start from 1/1/2021. This year (2021) has been something else and a huge change in my transition and I hope to get this up very soon. 

Not the best picture in 2018 but it is to show there is hope,

Thank you for reading and I hope you stay safe.

Sarah

xxx

Click on the parts to take you there 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Hey guys,

We are in Pride Month. So I thought I’d take a little rest from writing about my transition and do something a little different. That is to remaster and to re-write an old blog post I did way back in November 2014! Since then things have changed, I have changed and this blog has changed. Peope seem to be more sensitive, more mindful of others, and as people more politically correct. Celebrities getting cancelled for saying boo to a goose, you know that type of change the world is going through. So what what does this mean for me? Back then I was extremely course, and used colourful language and really didn’t give sh…. A damn! 

With me my attitude personally has not really changed, just the style of my writing. I do feel my grammar and spelling is better than it was when I last spoke about ‘Do’s and Don’ts”. Even now I will push the boundaries of how I write. However, there is a big difference between now and then… Back then I thought and identified myself as Bi-Gender which I believe the term is mainly known as Gender Fluid now (Not 100% sure). Now I am transitioning to female and officially changed my name legally also. 

With a new gender, new name does this change how people I know speak to me? Yes it does! Name is Sarah, My pronouns have also changed.

I am still as open as I was and more open than some trans people are, especially for those who are transitioning. Trans people do not have to be open by the way it is their choice. So my old name when I wrote this post in 2014 had changed and is now known as my “Dead-Name.” So with the dead mentioned let’s get into this post.

Do’s and Don’t’s

I have mentioned the phrase “Dead-Name” in this blog before. So what is a dead-name? A dead-name is when a person in this case a trans person who has changed their name and does not use their old name anymore. When I’m talking about my old name which was Nick I am okay with but that is me and not others. Because I have changed my name via deed poll, I have changed my driving license, tax and bank details to name a few to Sarah. This now makes the use of Nick now my dead-name. For some trans people this means everything that you treat them with respect so using their correct name. For me I ask my friends and colleagues to try with my name. Some do say my dead-name by mistake which after knowing me for years and only knowing me really as Sarah officially for the last 2 months after lockdown was lifted. For me personally and with me being relaxed I am allowing time for an adjustment period for friends and colleagues that have known me for a while. You can tell the difference between someone who is try to adjust compared to someone that is not trying and really showing ignorance. So my big tip on this for a do, is to show a little compassion and courtesy and just call that person by their preferred name. It is not hard and costs nothing. 

Alice Quinn Rose - Youtube - What is Dead-Naming

Pronouns are important! Once upon a time pronouns was not really something you heard about. To many people it is nothing and a passing thought but to trans people… It really is extremely important! Unfortunately people do get it wrong, it happens to me on a daily basis at work however it is getting better. Most people that know me will accidentally use “He/His/Him” when it should be “She/Her/Hers”. I have always got an apology if work colleagues or friends have used the wrong one and again for me personally it comes down an adjustment period, which is something I am giving. My tip for this is to either go with how they present (this has been said on a BBC Three trans mini documentary said by trans people) or if you are unsure just ask! I don’t think a trans person will get mad because you have asked. Unless you ask in a patronising way. If they get mad and you are being honest then the issue is with them in my opinion. Personally if I do not know someone I will not use pronouns till I get to know someone, or if I feel comfortable I will ask. I will admit I have gotten pronouns wrong a few times. No one is perfect.

PinkNews - Youtube - What are gender pronouns? Ze, Zir, They/Them | Jackson Bird explains

Questions is something you might want to ask a trans person. I get asked a lot and again I will generally answer them as I really don’t care and nothing is personal to me and I have nothing to hide, but how will people learn. I will always advise people what to not to ask before I answer. My rule of thumb to people is if you would generally feel uncomfortable to answer a questions what is personal to you why would it be appropriate to ask a trans person? Here are some questions I get asked:

Are you having the op? - Not every trans person is looking to have surgery down there. How would you feel if I asked you about your penis or vagina? How would you feel? Generally it’s a personal question and I would advise against asking.

Do you like men or women? - Gender is completely separate to sexual preference. Not sure why people assume that trans people are like the super/extreme gays? Like you know because being gay is not extreme enough! You get biological men liking men and biological women liking women to keep this basic. So please big tip to people reading this post please don’t ask this, generally because it is common sense.

Do you think you will regret it? - Out of all the questions I get asked, I do have to take a second for this doozy. For me it is because I spent two years researching everything and while being on a waiting list a further three years thinking about it. I have been on hormones,  for over two and a half years, so yes it’s a bit late for me to go back so easy, plus I had to fight so hard to get them. I do find being asked this question rather uncouth.

Can I see a picture of you as male/female? - Hell no! Well generally speaking. I am proud of where I have come from and I will happily show pictures especially from just before I started to learn about who I was. This might not be the case for another trans person. They could have had a horrid time before they started to transition and with asking this and I suppose like the other questions really can trigger them. Remember some trans people could have gone through a bad time to get where they are now, and do not want to be reminded about their past. This question is a big no no.

Can I feel your boobs? - I find this funny and not in a good way. The amount of times I have had people ask to feel my boobs and funnily enough mainly by females. If I was ask to feel theirs, I guarantee it will be a no! I'm sure it would be sexual harassment also. I understand that my boobs have grown, and my growth has surpassed a couple of my friends but you know genetics and all and the growth is through being on hormones. Like women going through puberty they grow! I’m still human and so are other trans people. Once again common sense comes into this.

I have a gay friend - This is something that grinds my gears. Over the years I’ve had multiple people will say to me "I have a gay friend" and will try to talk about knowing what being trans is and what we go through. For me this is more ignorance than people that do not know a thing about trans people. 

I try to be different and as open as possible. It is not that I wouldn’t feel comfortable with random people asking me questions, but I feel someone needs to fly the flag not just to educate but “gendercate” people! I do not find not knowing ignorance personally. I find the once that have the chance to learn or to a chance to show that courtesy and do not are the ignorant ones.

Honestly treating trans people is no different to treating anyone else. Treat people how you would want to be treated. Like everyone we have the basic organs that keep us alive just as the next person that is not trans. I have a brain, heart, lungs and liver to name a few organs that we all have regardless of gender. I can understand with trans people being in the media over the last few years it is an interesting subject for some, and many people that would want to know more to understand. With everything there is always a right and wrong way to go about it. If you know a trans person for a while and are good friends with them, then they might be more open. I would never ask a trans person who I have never met before personal questions. End of the day we are people and deserve the right to be shown courtesy as anyone else. (Respect for me personally has to be earned from both sides) 

If you treat a trans person with courtesy and as a person I guarantee you will have should issues and drama.

Thank you for reading and Happy Pride Month everyone!

Plymouth Marjon University 

Before I end this post I would like to go off topic. Recently an good friend of mine past away. A friend I have known for almost 16 years, you were the first person I spoke to on my first day in the working world at 16. You were very kind, always up for a laugh, even when you left the company you always kept in touch. You accepted me when I came out about my gender and always treated me as with the same respect. You really lead an inspiring life travelling the world alone. You really are and always will be amazing. Like everyone that knew you, I wish I was able to say goodbye, devastated really is an understatement. I will miss our chats, seeing all of your pictures and hearing the stories of your travels. R.I.P Baz lad, See you soon my friend and sleep tight.

Love 

Sarah

Xxx

Hey everyone!

I hope everyone is good, safe and keeping healthy?

Okay, so the last post we left off just as I started hormones but it wasn’t at all good. I spoke about how some people in the transgender community turned on me because how I got my hormones. Some people said I cheated the system and really you could feel the hate in words. I know shocking how the same people in the Transgender community will shout out saying we are getting killed for being transgender, being abused etc etc and then do the same to someone in their own community? I know it confused the hell out of me too! As I’ve mentioned in my blog many times before I really feel that the transgender community is very segregated within itself and it’s so wrong.

Evorel 50mcg patch

Anyway, let’s get into this post so we are starting late 2018. Over two years ago I started my HRT journey on the 28^th December. You might be thinking, ‘Why I have I not spoke about hormones before?’ That is, because it takes a hell of a long time for hormones and our body to develop. I as in my previous blog wasn’t allowed to start on pills as my liver levels wasn’t right so I had to add and change my goals a little which I had to add exercise and a change in my lifestyle and diet this was to able me to get on pills. This post is not really about how the hormones affected me. It about the troubles I faced with obtaining them and what brands and types of hormones I was on.

“Battling is something you will need to do unless you’re lucky. Never give up and keep fighting.”

I started at the bottom (literally) dose with the patches with 50mcg estrogen patches which was only for 1 month, which was to be increased to 100mcg 4 weeks later. That was the plan and based on blood results to increase it gradually. I eventually stopped at 200mcg with the patches. The plan was to move on to pills, provided my liver levels was safe. The level that was given to me was 40 Alu. When I went to Harrogate and had my bloods taken, they were at 78 ALu on the 9th November 2018. I decided to record my hormone journey via a journal and record, well pretty much everything I felt was necessary, even if it felt minor, I still recorded it. The plan was to look at the data recorded and see if there was a lot of changes or little changes. I set it up to look at side effects also. Over two years on I still use and continue to write in it. 

I think the first week I was very emotional. I don’t think it was down to the hormones or anything it was down to myself thinking, “wow. I can’t believe I’m here!“ I started my journey at the end of February that year. At the start of the year (2018) I left my job on the 4^th January and honestly, I had nothing. I had no job and after speaking to a family member of my down stairs neighbour about changing clinics, I knew what I had to do. It was hard to get my clinic to listen at first, I was told I would not get on hormones through the NHS through my clinic and other transgender people when I went on this journey. I would have to go private to obtain them, or through eBay or websites. Through hard work, stress, traveling a long way and getting the hate that I did and still manage to go through and get where I am… I am damn proud of it.

About a month after I went onto the 100mg patch I ran into issues with my doctor and clinic. This was the availability of my patch. My chemist could not source the brand called Evorel 100 (100 being the dose mcg) and even though I spoke to other transgender people that was on patches, however my GP would not budge. I had to get on the phone to Harrogate to get me a list of patches. Before I went to my GP with the list for him to choose one and write a prescription just to be wasted. I went to my chemist with the list of 6 alternative brands of the estrogen patches. Only one of these was instock. The brand was called Progynova® TS100, the patches was massive. I wish I took picture of how big they were. I would say about an inch high by 2.5 inch wide. 

I was on these patches from the end of January 2018 to the end of July 2018 I was on these patches and they were horrid. For the sizes they would not stick to my buttocks, and because I was at the gym 4-6 days a week at this point. They would not go on many other places on my body. Once the patches came off then it would be difficult to stick back on. They were leaving massive ring marks on my body which was hard to get off and also transferring to my shorts. One of my shorts the mark is still there 2 years later.

After about 2 months of being on the 100 I was ready for my quarterly blood tests. These are generally baseline bloods and some additional tests such as oestrogen (for MTF) or Testosterone levels (FTM), I will include a picture of the tests I need to have. When my results came my ALu levels came down from 78 ALu to 38 ALu. Within 2 months I had moved from 100mcg to 200mcg which meant for me to have two patches and it was a huge struggle with these patches. I ended up having to putting them on each butt cheek which meant more rings on my skin and also on my shorts. Progynova might work so some people but it didn’t work for me.

It came around about July around and again as my chemist was struggling to get hold of Progynova. I felt relieved to be honest. So out came with the list and with the 6 brands on, plus the Evorel making it 7 there was no 100mcg patches not even 50’s. Panic set in however, I was lucky when I spoke to my friend Chloe about what patches was she on. I was told Estradot. A trip to the chemist to see if they had the Estradot in stock which they did! Only once again came the arguing with my clinic with the brand change. I showed them the message with Chloe and got the practise manager to ring the chemist as the clinic had a ‘special relationship’ apparently, but only for the manager to be told what I said about the stock issues, and the manager’s face to go red. I managed to get my result and was prescribed Estradot.

“Things happen for a reason”

Estradot was a game changer. They didn’t do the 200mcg patches so it was a case of having two patches on and every two weeks to get a prescription, however, these patches were incredibly small. They were about 20mm tall by 25.5mm wide, I think. I place these on my hips and they were very effective also. My body did react to the new patches and they stayed on! They did not come off unless the patch themselves was defective, you could even have a bath and they would still not come off. I stayed on these for about 7 months and to be honest I was very happy with the results. I was even questioning why do I need to even go on tablets! Change them twice a week… SORTED.

Till February 2020 came and they ran out! SHIT!!!

I am going to leave this post here for now, as the next part I think will tie in to the whole issue in 2020. The reason why I have not spoken about the changes is because this post would end up becoming a novel and I’ve been asked by so many to maybe publish a book about it. I am not sure however it will take a long time to do and read.

Thank you for reading, stay safe, and I will see you all soon

Sarah

xxx

www.gscene.com

JK Rowling

Hi everyone!

For months I have been asked about my take on the whole JK Rowling saga! Even now it's more than ever. With constant news happening and it is getting bigger on the news between the trans community and JK Rowling, the press, the vloggers and the bloggers have lapped it up. Also if Jk Rowling comes to read this post which is highly unlikely… Errr hi and if you want to sue me for expressing my 'freedom of speech' and giving my opinion on this issue, I’m pretty broke.

People have been asking me, why have I not released anything sooner? In fact, I wrote 5 different blog posts, and in total over 20,000 words have been written. The issue is I’ve had with these posts is every time I wrote something I would have a break and I would just stumble onto something or news would break and would make what I wrote irrelevant to how I felt. Before the 3000 word essay, she wrote about how it all started. I never cared at all and honestly just laughed at her, just as I would with anyone else. So yeah I was aware of it right from the start however I never gave a crap. I’m not a Harry Potter fan, I liked the first book and film when I was a kid but that was it. 

Unfortunately, I have what most trans people would consider a very unpopular opinion and I know that transgender people will never be understood fully and there will be some people that never will accept us for who we are. For this to change you need people that are wanting to learn and change, you need the right people that can and will be able to educate people on the matter, unfortunately, for some people that have a brain the size of a nut will never happen. As stated before JK Rowling was someone that I never care about, so when JK Rowling showed her backing of Maya Forstater I laughed! When the whole issue rose with Magdalen Berns came about. I still didn’t care, and I still laughed at JK Rowling.

I would advise reading JK Rowling's Post if you haven't already and hopefully get a more balanced and fair opinion (link)

My Thoughts

Okay so I’ve mentioned two names already and I believe that is how it starts in JK’s essay. When I try and write anything I always try to make it as balanced as I can from both sides, this is the sixth attempt at writing this post and every time I have to take a break and just log into Twitter, Facebook, and basic web stuff and I would just come across either new news that has broken with JK Rowling or come across something I have missed and made the posts I did irrelevant in a matter of minutes. 

So I will start with breaking down the 5 reasons behind JK Rowling is speaking out against new trans activism;

Point one:- JK has a “charitable trust that focuses on deprivation in Scotland, with a particular emphasis on women and children.” This supports female prisoners, survivors of females of domestic abuse, and went on to funding for MS. She says about trans people are trying to replace sex with gender also.

This has no bearing to really speak out to me. The prison I’m guessing to referring to is trans sexual assaults in women’s prisons by trans MTF. There is so much of this flying about online but it's rare that people post any facts at all or official figures to prove how many cases of sexual assaults by trans people on natal women. Trans females (MTF) in female prisons are very rare and as for assaults I’ve only heard of one a trans person when called Karen White who is trans and sexually assaulted women, Karen also raped two other women before she went into jail. (Karen White link The Guardian paper Link)

I am going to be realistic here and for every community, there will be some bad people. There is nothing we can do about it, I would like to say that Karen White will never represent me as a trans person. I don’t talk about trans politics much and on most of my social platforms and on here my blog I try not to talk about politics. I will with this issue on this post, I do feel that if a trans person has been given the chance to go to their prison sex/gender of choice then they should be given benefit of the doubt but should be presenting full time as who they are and on the pathway to transition. If the trans person like Karen, for example, carries on with what they are doing inside the prison walls then those rights should be stripped, why should Karen be safe but is a danger to others. Nothing will change my mind on that, no matter how much hate I get from the trans community.

Trans people are just as susceptible to abuse in a prison, or even out and about just like anyone else so point one to me is invalid!

POINT TWO:- JK Rowling says she is an ex-teacher and a founder of a children’s charity so regarding education and safeguarding. JK Rowling is concerned about the trans movement that affects them.

Since reading the essay... Well, JK Rowling from what I have read from your essay alone I’m afraid to say you’re not educated enough with trans issues and are not in a position to try and educate others on an issue you have little experience of. Saying you’re a founder of a children’s charity then thinking you can talk about trans people and trans kids to me is like a person saying I have a gay best friend so I know and can talk about trans people and trans kids. Like wow, you said you’re against the GRC that was going to be debated in the commons but got that wrong epically! More on that shortly. So point two to me is invalid!

Point 3:- JK Rowling is interested in Freedom of Speech! 

This made me laugh, like a lot! If that is the case why threaten to sue Nicola Spurling because of her tweet saying that JK Rowling is a danger to kids? Or I believe another case was with a website called The Day which is a website for news but for kids. I believe this was calling JK Rowling transphobic. Another one which came after this was Stephen King that expressed freedom of speech and JK Rowling deleted a tweet she has put up about him (more on that further down)... How pathetic can you get!

So three instances where freedom of speech was shown and funnily they were silenced. It seems freedom of speech is something JK is fine with until it is about her or against what she believes… Or as some might say the truth hurts? How you as the reader want to interpret this is completely up to you!

So Point three to me is invalid!

Point 4:- This is the point that very personal to JK Rowling which is about young women that want to transition and how much detranstioning is on the rise. JK Rowling said about how women are transition because they were attracted to the same sex and some, were partly driven through homophobia either in society or in families. This part does go on and on to which JK Rowling was saying to has met with young trans people and they were “adorable” 

Okay so yes I not posted the whole point here because it is way too long and really has no relevant information and on YouTube, and blogs etc not many people talk that much about this point apart from this bit, and is the main one for me and many is:- “A man who intends to have no surgery and take no hormones may now secure himself a Gender Recognition Certificate and be a woman in the sight of the law. Many people aren’t aware of this.”

This is extremely wrong and where I paused! I had to reread this multiple times, as this is here is someone that is talking about how trans activism is dangerous and about education. And this is not dangerous? This is extremely dangerous as this is nothing more than an opinion that is put as a fact. The GRC (Gender Recognition Certificate) is so easy to find and I will post a link to this which is by the government on the government (UK) website and is so easy to find (this law changing). JK Rowling is completely wrong on this statement and with it being so easy to find and with the Multiple trans people she has spoken to and has read stuff by gender specialist, blogs, etc. This does make me think if JK has actually spoken too or read at all or has JK Rowling spoken to them about the point she believes in. The issue here is JK Rowling has 14.5 million twitter followers, excluding other platforms and there will be people that will not look into this and believe everything in what JK is saying. This little statement for me is the most dangerous part of this whole bs essay. So yet again a massive false fact makes point 2 even more and extremely irrelevant as JK Rowling has failed to show she is educated enough but also makes point four to me invalid!

Link to the UK Government website for the GRC (This includes Scotland) Link here 

Point five:- JK Rowling talks about being in a domestic abuse survivor which in The Sun's newspaper her Ex-Husband strongly denies but yet did strike her… That is abuse in my books and I do believe JK Rowling about being in a domestic abusive relationship.

JK Rowling said “as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is a simple truth.”

I’ve never used changing rooms from the swimming pool or gym etc, with the changing rooms at my gym I use the disabled. I have only used female toilets to which I have only ever been to use the facilities such as; wash my hands and the odd time to fix my hair and makeup. A statement like this is adding to the many things wrongs about this essay. I covered about bathrooms way back in 2015 when I interviewed Brae Carnes when there was a bathroom issue in Canada and I looked at UK law and I’ve not heard anything different since with the laws and that was where I could not find any laws to state who can use who’s facilities with government or council-owned facilities, so a male could walk into a female toilet and use it. With private facilities, it is up to whoever owns that property, feel free to comment if this has changed with links to a government webpage. As for the GRC you have to have a diagnosis and two letters and live as their preferred gender for 2 years and the rest of your life. So yet again JK you are wrong. To add with the bathroom a trans person is refused entry people will use some kind of human rights is breached but I can't say I know too much on that front.

I would like to say apart from sport such as Boxing, MMA, etc I am against any form of violence away from the sport. No trans person or an ally of a trans person should not be threatening JK Rowling or anyone's life, or to do any kind of harm in fact! It really is barbaric and disgusting and if anyone disagrees with me that is on my friend's list or followers etc please feel free to unfriend or unfollow me! These people do not and will never represent me! I do not associate myself with people that will use violence and if I find anyone I do associate with that feels violence is necessary I will happily cut ties with them. There is no place for it, not now, not ever!

From my knowledge and others, JK Rowling was not in a domestic abusive relationship with a trans person, this was a natal male. I have seen loads of domestic abuse cases that have mainly been male in the media but that does not mean that females are innocent and some have been known to abuse their male partners. I’ve read in The Guardian that Purity a charity for men and women stated that over 40% of men are abused by their female partners but are ignored by the police and media. So yet again point five to me is is invalid!

Link to The Guardian's article (Click here) 

Conclusion and Today!

Okay, so I have picked what I feel is key information and what stands out to me from this essay as there is more. Getting the facts wrong about the GRC is pretty much what stands out from the rest. I linked the page to the essay just before talking about her 5 points. I would like you to read what has been written before you just use this post as gospel. You never know you could disagree with me.

I am glad I didn’t post what I wrote the other 5 times as every time I did, I would come across something without even going looking for it, or JK Rowling would start trending or a topic JK Rowling is apart would start to trend-making what I wrote what I think was balanced I would be invalid, I’m guessing many trans people would be asking why am I trying to be balanced. You see there are two sides to a story and I feel with Jk Rowling’s essay it is not balanced, I do feel it is manipulative also. I said it lacks facts, lacks links to look at where she found some of the information. Some of these I would love to know where JK Rowling got her information about the GRC laws to be so wrong when it is so easy and the first link when I googled searched. 

She mentions she has a friend that transitioned and how much time it took yeah it takes a long time and in COVID times it’s now even longer! More and more people are being referred to Gender Identity Clinics and more people are transition which is true but there are many reasons and many different courses for treatment. Not all trans people want the operation, as for starting HRT I could not comment. I’m currently transitioning and on HRT which I fought for and I have been on the waiting list for 30 months for my first appointment, because of COVID this could have added an extra 6/7 months wait for my first appointment. After my first appointment, I will have to wait an additional 16-18 months for my second appointment then another 14-16 month for the third and final appointment which will be different as I am already on HRT.

I have spoken to parents that have trans children who follow me on my main social media platforms and I will admit as much as my knowledge on this is small I will be making it my mission to find out in the near future and I plan to ask if I can visit my little warriors and find out what they are going through and to get as much information as I can. I want to know what they are going through and how they are coping on the waiting lists, school, etc, and what course of action they will be going through at their young age. Tavistock is not just the only GIC for children, Leeds where I will be going is another clinic is for children I believe and the waiting time is 3 years (feedback from a parent) one posted that their child gets bullied at school. All we got from JK was they are “adorable” or some other form of negativity about reasons that are even smaller than what I have spoken about, oh, and about something at Tavistock, what about focusing on what the child goes through mentally? 

Some reasons and a lot more common than what was in the essay are: 

Some trans people detransition because of waiting times, like mine it is very long and the process is very long without COVID. For myself and others to be so close like 6 months for me then for it to be a year (in April). Another reason for trans people that may detransition is transphobic abuse that is given to them via family, friends (so-called) the public! I know of 10 people that have been assaulted because they’re trans, around the world trans people are murdered and some in horrific ways. Another reason is discrimination! I have been discriminated in two jobs and also by the NHS in 2016. Some trans people will lose so much because they’re transitioning so they will detransition so they will not lose family and children to name a few. There are so many reasons to this which JK failed to mention.

I’ve debated with other trans people and I kept saying, 'Do I really think JK Rowling is transphobic?' I have spoken to others and have said I feel this essay is to mask her insecurities about trans people and I still feel that way but since the essay, it has made me re-think a little and think it's more to it?

It has made me re-think about is Jk Rowling really a danger to children?

As time has gone on and after last week I feel JK Rowling is transphobic after backing a website called “Wild Womyn Workshop” which has offensive badges aimed at trans people, which goes against were in JK’s Essay saying she wants trans people wanting to be safe. There are children that are trans and I feel if you are willing to promote websites like these who are against trans people, according to my freedom of speech which JK is here to speak up for I feel from the essay and the evidence I’ve come across the answer is yes I feel JK Rowling is a danger not just to children but trans people overall and more. Not stating a fact but my “freedom of speech” on a concerning matter. The backing of this website really is the icing on the cake for me. 

Links to Wild Womyn Workshop: Badge link, Gender Critical link, website home link

JK Rowling wrote a thank you tweet to Stephen King when in the comments he was challenged about trans people and Stephen King responded to “Trans women are women” JK Rowling deleted her tweet, reported to have unfollowed him. I’m not someone that waves the transphobic card around as it is waved around too much and I feel on things that are not really transphobic but I feel this is a big sign of being transphobic right there.

The Book. Okay, I will admit I can't say too much on this topic I just know I will probably get questioned on it at the point of writing this blog post as to why I haven't said anything about it. The name (Robert Galbraith) has been pointed out to me and what the name represents (apparently), not that I have looked into it as of yet... You know with life and all. I know the book is about a murdering transvestite and this book is apart of a series. That bit itself doesn't bother me personally as it is not new to where a character of a book/film that dresses as a woman that has killed others! You have Phycho, Dressed To Kill, Silence of the Lambs, etc. Yes, I will probably get backlash myself for this part. I get it with the saga going on with JK Rowling and the trans community and can see the overall picture there, at this time right now I see it in bad taste and will add more hate towards her and what she want's to accomplish. What I do not understand is the name and why can't it just be JK Rowling? Why a male name when JK Rowling is speaking out against gender identity and sex? With an already established name, I just don't get it? I know this is probably not a new thing as you can tell I'm not an author. Loads of questions to ask on this alone with maybe loads of people reading this shouting their reasons at the screen and calling me names!  

Waterstones

To end this I can say that this whole saga is just well... it’s really is stupid and also just fucking pathetic. People will defend their rights for freedom and this goes for anyone and any community! This whole dilemma makes no sense at all, as said facts are wrong and half of the people that are against trans people have never met a trans person. There are so many facts that are inaccurate and I feel are biased from JK Rowling's side. Some trans people and allies think it is good to send threats, which is really is not. I think would be unfair to attack the fans of JK Rowling saying they stand with her because I defiantly think some have jumped on board with how she thinks more than they like her books but also I have harry potter fans that are fully accepting of trans people. I feel there are trolls also on both sides. Personally, I feel JK Rowling needs to meet more trans kids and people like myself and meet with them with an open mind rather than having an agenda. As from what I have read I feel if she met with trans people they were for specific reasons rather than a whole if that makes sense. With the GRC law, this has been a disaster for her, as a real shit show. There are facts here that are untrue and links have been provided.

For people that are not in the loop of what has gone on (click here) for the timeline. I would like to say if JK Rowling does come across blog post and reads it and feels differently, or just wants to chat about it all, I would like to invite her to meet with me or have a chat with me personally and we can discuss this one on one over a coffee or some wine whichever JK Rowling prefers and I will happily travel (when local lockdowns have been lifted and safe to do so). I would like to say I am not a trans activist at all, I try to have an open mind and balanced views, and again do not believe in violence so this would be in safe company. (following the COVID guidelines of course)

Thank you for reading as this is a very long post and see you again soon!

Love

Sarah

Xxx