Nicole Gibson explains what Trans*Pride means to her.
“For me, Trans* Pride shows how far the world has come, while at the same time reminding me that being trans* is still classed by many as a taboo subject and we still have a long way to go.
“I’m very much a ‘live and let live’ kind of girl and have often thought that as empowering as Gay Pride is for the gay community, it’s sad that still to this day we have a designated period where we can show the world that not everyone is the same, that it’s ok to be yourself, be out and proud and co-exist quite comfortably. But, that said, look how far we have all come, with legalised gay marriage being just one example.
“I grew up in a small country village where I, along with most of the other residents, didn’t have the foggiest idea what transgender was. For as long as I can remember I went to bed every night praying that I’d wake up a girl, completely oblivious that others the world over felt exactly the same as I did.
“Trapped and embarrassed to tell anyone because I thought this was something that no one else would understand.
“My first introduction to the trans* community was when I typed it into YouTube and lo and behold there were hundreds of videos posted by people going through exactly the same thing as me. What a relief! Seeing this finally gave me the courage to speak to my doctor and my family.
“I began posting my own transition blogs, documenting my journey to share with others, I wanted to give something back as hearing other experiences gave me the nudge I needed to move forward.
“Of course Trans* Pride is a great opportunity to, as a collective voice, show the ‘norm’ that this is our world too and we have every right to go about our business just like everyone else. It’s also an opportunity to unite with our trans* brothers and sisters, creating friendships, sharing stories and reminding others that they’re not alone.
“Transitioning doesn’t matter how far you intend to go and it certainly doesn’t stop once you’ve had your surgery. There are always new things to learn and experiences to share. Raising awareness and coming together as a community simply makes it a smoother ride for us all. Long live Trans* Pride.”