In the second episode of our Young Voices podcast special, Leo shares his experiences of coming out age 11, how his family responded to the news and his experience of accessing care via the Tavistock. As he approaches his 17th birthday, Leo chats to Dr Helen and Marianne about the challenges he has faced and his excitement about the next phase of his journey.
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The GenderGP Podcast
Young Voices: Being a trans youth
Hello, this is Dr Helen Webberley. Welcome to our GenderGP Podcast, where we will be discussing some of the issues affecting the trans and non-binary community in the world today, together with my co-host Marianne Oakes, a trans woman herself, and our head of therapy.
Dr Helen Webberley:
Hey, hi everybody. I've got another exciting young guest with us today. I'm with Marianne as usual, and I'm also with a young man called Leo who's very kindly agreed to come on and talk to us and tell us all about himself and life, the universe, and everything else. But pre-warning, we're not going to talk about geography because Leo and I have both admitted that that is not our strong point. So anyway, Leo, lovely, lovely, lovely to meet you and lovely to have you here today. I'm just going to do a really awful grown-up thing and say, Leo, tell us all about yourself, tell us anything you want us to know. And just go for it.
Leo:
So, my name is Leo. I'm 16, I live in Bedford, I came out as trans when I was about 11. So I've been living as myself for quite a while now, about five years, which is exciting. And I'm coming up to a year on testosterone, which is very cool. Those are the basics.
Dr Helen Webberley:
Your life, your life milestones, aren't they?
Leo:
Yeah. Pretty much.
Marianne Oakes:
I'm loving the pondering because it just, to me, it's like you ask any 16-year-old, say about, tell you about themselves and nothing seems remarkable, does it?
Leo:
It's quite hard. I was just trying to think of what is most important to me right now. And those are the things, really.
Marianne Oakes:
What, if you don't mind, tell us a little bit about what kinds of things you like, what hobbies, if any?
Leo:
Well, I'm really into fitness, so I work out. Now it’s less so, now the gyms are closed, but again, a normal scene. So yeah, I work out quite a lot of biking, so my friends like to bike on a regular basis. Quite a lot of music, the acting, I like dancing, I like all the things, I should have mentioned that.
Dr Helen Webberley:
So, you say you came out at 11. What are you able to remember that? Tell us what that was like for you. What does that mean for you and your family and those around you? What, what happened?
Leo:
Yeah, I remember very well.