Alex Whinnom - PFC campaigner

PFC Vice-President

Alex Whinnom

I grew up in Dublin, in Kingston, Jamaica and in Exeter, Devon where I went to secondary school. I’m a trans man who changed over young in the days when it seemed almost unheard of, and when being transsexual was supposed to be a secret of which we were expected to be ashamed and afraid. Now I’ve lived more of my life a man than as a girl, and times have changed. I have some understanding of those trans people who want to “just lead a normal life”. I know if it had been possible for me to put my past behind me I would certainly have done so and in conventional terms I have in fact had a successful and happy life and have become an ordinary responsible member of society. I kept in touch with the trans community for over 20 years more by accident than by design, at first mainly supporting other FTMs who needed information and reassurance, later getting to know some of those involved in the early trans networks. Although I was well aware of the legal and social problems trans people faced, my philosophy was - and is - that “the flower grows where it is planted”, or if you prefer, “banging your head on a brick wall gives you a sore head”. It wasn’t until 1992, when Press for Change was founded, that the climate seemed right for collective political activism.

Readers of these pages will be familiar with the phenomenal growth of the campaign, its developing international aspect, its many legal and educational successes. You will also know how much strength and creativity we can muster when we all work together. I do feel enormously privileged to have been at the heart of such an exciting and positive movement, and to have had the pleasure of knowing so many good people.

But what keeps me in the campaign is something more personal. I now believe we can never as individuals be fully ourselves without gaining complete equality and total respect from the society of which we are a part. People, especially non-trans people, sometimes ask, “but what will you get from the campaign?” In a sense, nothing - I’ve had my treatment, I do not wish to marry or have a family, I don’t need protection in employment, I’ve learned to be good humoured about telling minor officials all about my medical history. But I have achieved self respect at the expense of my respect for others: to have pride in myself and in what I am, I must dissociate myself from the values of the community in which I live and work. This problem is of course not unique to trans people; it is experienced by all groups against whom discrimination is accepted. But it is perhaps worse for trans people than for most, because we are usually isolated within that discrimination/negation for the first 20 years of our lives, because of our small numbers and because of the unprecedented level of institutionalised, legalised discrimination we face.

I believe very strongly that every person has the right to self definition, and to real choice about how they wish to live with that identity. I believe every individual has an equal right to the resources, rituals and responsibilities of the society in which they live, regardless of their identity, and that a society which forces people into - or out of - rigid moulds is losing enormous human potential. I believe that when we, as trans people, are fully accepted and valued, both legally and personally, by our fellow citizens, the world will be a better place for them as well as for us.

I have already got a great deal from the campaign, for it comprises an alternative society in which such principles are taken for granted. As we win each small victory, our values and those of the rest of our society grow a little closer together. I hope that before I die I will see them converge.

CV

Education and qualifications

Current employment (since 1995)

Policy and Information Officer for Manchester Methodist Housing Association.

Main duties:

• Training programme for staff of 130
• Information and library facilities for same
• Publicity, annual report, newsletters, displays
• Securing funding and identifying new opportunities
• Evaluation and monitoring the work of the association
• Setting new policy and developing good practice

Employment history

I have worked in voluntary sector housing, especially “supported” housing, since 1985, and prior to that did a huge variety of part time and full time work, including youth work, community music and working for a theatrical costumier. I teach the piano part time, and undertake occasional consultancy work, mainly for small voluntary sector agencies

Recent voluntary work