I met with the delightful Shea in Rochester, and over tea and cake, we discussed recent events affecting trans people in the UK. As one of the first authors in the UK to publish a book about trans people in 2017, I am no stranger to trans issues. Since then, much water has flowed under the bridge, and the trans landscape is more transient than ever. In the past five years, there has been an increase in people – both young and not so young – coming out as trans (those whose gender identity differs from their birth sex) and non-binary (people who do not identify as solely male or female), bringing with it an increase in media reporting, Stonewall campaigning and gender ideology that has either pleased transpeople or angered the general public resulting in increased social media prejudice and transphobia that shows no signs of abating.
Shea feels that society has now reached a point in history where, on the one hand, there has never been a better time to be trans, but on the other, trans people endure twice as many struggles. She states that she is more of an advocate than a trans activist, but she is being modest. Shea works hard and diligently both behind the scenes and publicly. She is the co-founder of Medway Pride Radio, Director of Medway Pride, Co-founder/Director of Rainbows over Medway, a trustee of Aidsmap, and advisor/contributor to various other organisations. Shea frequently appears on television and radio, gives public talks on trans issues to community groups across the country and continues to counsel and advise members of the trans community in a private capacity.
When we met, we discussed the controversial Cass Report (2024), which came out at the beginning of April. This report published a major review of NHS children’s gender issues, warning that gender medical practices carried out in the Tavistock Clinic (which closed in March 2024) were based on alleged poor evidence. As a result, it is now recommended that puberty blockers, which halt development into adulthood, are no longer prescribed to those under sixteen. Likewise, a ban was placed on cross-sex hormones (which begins the physical process of changing gender), recommending instead that they are only prescribed with extreme caution to those under eighteen.
Through Shea’s work and contacts, she is adamant that a lot of misleading misinformation was deliberately spread about the Tavistock Clinic by transphobic people working in media outlets. The truth is that only 8% of children were given puberty blockers by the clinic, which accounts for approximately 435 (with an average age of 15) from the thousands of children the clinic saw over its 35-year history. It is a myth to say that children and their parents were rushed into making hasty decisions about treatments because many were on the five-year waiting list before being seen in the first place. As there are no reliable statistics, Shea also questions where the statistics are about those who de-transitioned. She also queries the research findings of the link between being trans and neurodivergent, adding that clearer evidence is needed. Additionally, Shea is afraid that the new regional health services (replacing the Tavistock Clinic) won’t be effective because they will be fearful of criticism or making a wrong decision and the mass media response and intrusion from transphobic-driven journalists and their supporters. The Cass Report and its misleading information have only given gravitas to critics of young people’s trans healthcare.
Trans healthcare, Shea believes, is at a low point for both young and older people in the UK. The waiting lists for adults to be seen at gender identity clinics are at an all-time high of five-plus years. She believes we are moving further away from any type of trans service in the NHS. As a result, transpeople are being pushed into seeking outside interventions and turning to private providers and international prescriptions, which carries significant risks. For example, when buying cross-sex hormones online, people may be duped and end up with defective hormones that do not contain the necessary ingredients to bring about body changes. Shea believes that a massive review of NHS services for all trans people is needed now before it is too late. A proper, structured, and timely service is necessary, including signposting for trans people to all available options as they navigate their healthcare, along with offering them non-judgemental emotional support.
We also discussed the new Scottish hate crime laws that took effect recently. Shea feels few people will be prosecuted under these laws, and she questions whether this is just more meaningless government rhetoric. She feels that society have been given carte blanche to say whatever nasty and discriminatory things they choose about the trans community, both in the media and online and provided they are not seen as ‘inciting violence’ prosecutions will be rare because of legal loopholes.
Shea believes there is much fearmongering about women and safe spaces coupled with a disturbing and dangerous hysteria that trans women pose a threat to cisgender women if they use the same toilet. It’s almost the same as the 1980s homophobia about gay people being paedophiles. The distortion of statistics regarding trans sex offenders is also concerning. It is claimed that 59% of trans women are in prison for a sex crime compared with 17% of (most likely cisgender) male inmates. But when you closely examine the data, you will see a total of 129 inmates are trans women compared with a total of 78,781 cisgender male inmates. From that, 76 trans women are convicted of a sex crime compared with 13,234 cisgender men.
Trans people, it seems, are accused of wanting to take over the world with the way some media outlets portray them. But how can this be rationalised given their still small numbers? Trans and non-binary people were counted for the first time in the 2021 census for England and Wales, showing that 262,000 people identified as a different gender to their sex registered at birth. The number of people who said they were not the same gender as their birth sex amounted to 0.5% of the population. This statistic was lower than the poll by Ipsos, conducted around the same time, in which 3.1% of people said they were trans, non-binary, genderqueer or gender fluid – a gender or another gender that was neither male nor female.
Shea reiterated that trans and non-binary people want to get on with their lives, be left in peace to live as authentically as possible and have their human rights recognised like any other marginalised group in society. They want fair access to health services and to live in a society where they feel valued and are safe from verbal abuse and physical attacks. They deserve respect and sensitivity and are fed up with online hatred and media disinformation. It seems that every couple of days, media reports turn the spotlight on trans people in a negative way. Whether this is debating trans athletes competing in professional sports, focusing on a tiny number of trans people who go to prison or discussing safeguarding issues in schools.
Regarding the latter, Shea doesn’t believe schools should ‘out’ trans children to their parents. Young people need safe spaces like schools where they can trust a confidante, teacher or peer to discuss their gender identity. Not all parents are open-minded about accepting their child’s gender identity, and besides, Shea believes it is best for a young person to come out at a time that feels right for them. Despite the setbacks and media distortion, Shea is of the firm belief that trans people need to remain visible and stay in the fight despite the hate, attacks, myths and misinformation circulating about them. They certainly should not retreat or go underground at this pivotal time.
On a personal note, Shea, who identifies as pansexual (attracted to all genders), is happily married and the proud parent of three children. She and her wife renewed their wedding vows two years ago, having married as a heterosexual couple before Shea transitioned. She is soon planning to privately undergo full reassignment surgery to complete her transitioning journey. She laughed when recalling how she has been called the Imelda Marcos of Medway because of her love of shoes and has easily over 100-plus pairs in her possession.
Shea is a professional chef who owned a restaurant in Skibbereen in Co Cork before she got married. She loves Ireland and believes the country has the best raw ingredients in the world. In addition to her love for cuisine, Shea loves jazz music and collects vinyl records. Her favourite singer is Billy Tipton, who, after he died in 1989, was discovered to have been assigned female at birth.
We ended our meeting with Shea recounting the funniest and most recent piece of abuse she received while walking through Chatham High Street. She was minding her own business when suddenly, a homeless man called out to her, ‘Hey, you trans people are little more than wedding cake homosexuals.’ What made it so funny was that this incredulous description made no sense. Nevertheless, Shea is pondering whether to have a t-shirt designed with this slogan for a joke. Personally, I thought the slogan on the t-shirt she wore when we met summed her up perfectly – ‘Unique.’ After our fascinating conversation, I was also left feeling that the trans and non-binary community are incredibly lucky to have her as an activist, advocate and friend.
