I’m Deaf, transgendered, and with a multi-cultural background. I work as Equality and Diversity Manager for Sussex Learning and Skills Council in Brighton.
I have been most fortunate in finding an employer, a church, community and social groups, who accept me for who I am, and judge me on what I can do, not on what I can’t do or upon what I look like.
I thoroughly enjoy my work as an Equality and Diversity Manager for the LSC and I am involved with many local community groups including the Clare Project and Spectrum. I am also a community contributor to Sussex Police in their diversity training and sit on consultation groups on policy regarding the LGBT community.
I am active in PCS – I am the local branch secretary and organiser for the LSC Group.
I live with my partner Angela, who is also transgendered and we are both active in the transgender community.
Our website is at www.brighton-belles.me.uk
Local groups with which we are involved are the Clare Project www.clareproject.org.uk which is a local self-help group, and Spectrum www.spectrum-lgbt.org/ which is a local umbrella group on LGBT issues. I’m active in my local Methodist church www.dorsetgardens.fsnet.co.uk/ and maintain links with our local Metropolitan Community Church www.brightwavesmccbrighton.co.uk whom we support at Pride rallies J
I very much want to help support our Trans members across the UK and PCS Proud members locally – many LGBT people can feel very isolated, especially if they are not involved in a local LGBT community – Brighton is “the place to be” (as the local Council advertise) but not everyone will be that fortunate.
May I make an appeal for as many PCS Proud Trans members as possible to email me in confidence so that I can build up a contact list and thus hopefully start up an email group and regular email newsletter?
Also please bear with me while I create a Trans page on the Brighton Belles website,
it’s at www.brighton-belles.me.uk/pcs_proud_transgender_page.htm and is still a work in progress.
It will have material useful to PCS members (both Trans members and reps who are supporting them)
Finally I encourage all Proud members to become active on the Proud Forum at www.pcsproud.org.uk/message/index.php
There is a Transgender section of the forum – email me if you want access – it’s strictly for trans PCS members only.
Cheers,
Joanna
