Ben Thom - PFC campaigner
PFC Vice-President
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Ben Thom
Ben is a founder member of FTM London and has been part of the FTM Network since 1996 becoming a PFC member shortly afterwards. He has given trans support at a London local level for many years involved in a wide variety of trans community projects ranging from help line duties for the FTM Network to building a database for Alchemy, International Transgender Film Festival. Although recently returned from a rather long sabbatical whilst coping with serious illness he also improved his academic qualifications, qualified in law and became a barrister. Recently he wrote the response to the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s draft guidelines after coordinating and running a focus group of trans men from FTM London. He also conducted a discrimination law review with reference to trans people as part of his contribution to Stephen Whittle’s research report, “Engendered Penalties.”
Whilst co chair of FTM London Ben put in place its administrative infrastructure, constitution and other mechanisms necessary for good governance that have ensured the continuity and vibrancy of FTM London as an organisation that has supported trans men for nearly 10 years. As a board member of the Gender Trust, Ben is contributing towards improving communication and support links for trans people between trans organisations. Ben enjoys public speaking and spoke at the Greater London Authority public debate on GRS and trans health issues on 1st May 2007. A member of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG) along with Tracy, he is a trans stakeholder helping to monitor and contribute to projects that will improve the health care of trans people.
As a person who became medically disabled since completing transition he is very keen to educate and encourage a broad spectrum of people to have a greater awareness and understanding of disability issues and equality law. He undertook his Msc in Disabilty Management and Rehabilitation in Work in 2000 at City University after undergraduate Social Science at the Open University, having been fortunate enough to have been given a Snowdon Award. His unique case studies of trans men transitioning at work won him the honour of a distinction.
In 2002 Ben started his law studies subsequently passing his PgDl Law and being accepted on the Bar Vocational Course. During his Bar course he benefited from RADA presentational skills and public speaking training. On successfully completing the Bar Course he stayed with the College of Law for a further year attached to the probono unit where he obtained further practical experience of giving legal advice and advocating. His practical legal experience has ranged from dealing with housing possession cases at county court for Greenwich Housing Rights to assisting with NASS Asylum cases. He was called to the Bar in 2004 and is a member of the Inner Temple.
