OUR VOICES

Our Voices

These stories are contributed by women who have sought support and who are now being given the opportunity to share their experiences. More will be added as we receive them. The stories are anonymous as contributors fear reprisals from former partners and their allies. We offer complete confidentiality to our contributors.

If you have also been affected by any of the issues in these stories, please view our Resources page.

Melissa's Story: The Other Woman

He loved going shopping with me. I thought it was fun because most men didn’t enjoy picking out skirts, heels, and lingerie...

Anna’s Story- Dude Looks Like a Lady

I married a man who wore blue jeans and t-shirts. We met in Washington,DC. When we dated we had so many common interests in music, ballet,

Siobhan’s Story – Reality Bites

Like many women I stayed too long. I was raised to have a faith which I have passed on to my child, and it led me to stay in our marriage..

Alison’s Story, Part 2: The Burn Mark

No chance for reconciliation? My voice was unexpectedly full of tears even though I replied as she as she expected.

Alison's Story: Uncoupling

No preparation. No warning. No clue. Just the announcement: "I've decided I'm transgendered". We'd been married for thirty-three years.

Jessica's Story: Acceptance with One Exception

Where do I start? I met my husband, we’ll call him Bill, who was a real gentleman and treated me very respectfully.

Celia's Story: Respite

I don't want to be bitter or intolerant. I don't want to be "in denial". But sometimes my mind needs respite.

Persephone’s Story: Escape From The Underworld.

I was in a relationship with a man, Matt. We shared political ideals, as these ideals were very important to me in my close relationships.

Linda's Story: Look Back In Anger

13th Rule of Misogyny: Angry women are crazy. Angry men have trouble expressing themselves...

Sapphire’s Story - Seasons (A poem)

When he shattered my remains The vase broke into shards That spoke louder than trite words In that crystallised moment I know that his...

Tsevea's Story: The Man In The Mirror

I had seen the pictures of him before when he was in the Navy. Dressing in a sexy red dress that was still in his closet.

Bertina's Story: The Never Ending Trans Widow Story

All those years ago, I'd not an inkling that this end of my life would still be an exploration of my ex-husband's lies and deceit--this...

Sadie's Story: Losing Him, Losing Us

To paraphrase Will Ladislaw from Middlemarch (played in the early-’90s BBC miniseries by the delectable Rufus Sewell), there are some things

Shalyn's Story: Out of My Closet & On With My Life

I will never forget our wedding day. What should have been a long-forgotten comment would haunt me for years later.

Liz’s Story - A Lesbian Trans Widow Speaks

I was expected to smile my way through it all”: A lesbian transwidow tells her heart-wrenching story to Jo Bartosch

Mary Joan's Story: Paying The Price

"I am transgender and am immediately going to start transition. But I am also your husband, so you have a say in all of this."

Karen's Story - Part 2: What Helped Me

Karen, a previous contributor, shares her experience of leaving.

Karen's Story - Part 1: Counselling

Thanks to improved awareness and resourcing, there are now multiple counselling & support services for individuals contemplating transition.

Tinsel's Story: These Chains

It was a song called "These Chains" that saved my life. It was the soundtrack to the months before and after I left my husband.

Autumn's Story: Let's Split Up & Look For Clues!

People always ask “Didn’t you know?”, or “You must have seen the signs?” I always thought the answer to both questions was “NO!”.