UK’s first trans parents tell of baby Millie joy
A FORMER Army officer and her husband have been talking about their bundle of joy after becoming the first transgender parents in the UK.
Hannah and Jake Graf were on ITV’s Lorraine yesterday to talk about the arrival of baby Millie last month – and revealed they are making a TV documentary on their experiences.
Jake said he always wanted to be a dad, but never thought it would be possible, while mum Hannah said that she was happy they had brought a little bit of joy into the world during the coronavirus crisis.
Born in Cardiff, Hannah is the former highest-ranking transgender officer in the UK, while Jake is a writer, director and actor who has starred in the likes of The Danish Girl.
The pair had announced last year they were expecting their first child with the help of a surrogate.
Their daughter is also genetically linked to Jake after he had his eggs collected several years ago when he temporarily stopped taking testosterone.
Talking about their surrogate, Hannah said: “She is such an amazing woman. We have nothing but awe and love for her. She is one of the most inspirational people we have ever met. She had wanted to do this for many years and she agreed to go on this journey with us.
“And she is very much going to stay in Millie’s life as a family friend.”
They went on to talk about how difficult it was for the grandparents not being able to hold baby Millie because of the current lockdown.
Jake said: “At this moment in time, when all you want to do is welcome a new arrival and celebrate her and introduce her and for them to hold her.
“I feel very emotional thinking about them holding her for the first time, but we are weeks away from that. But we are incredibly lucky to be where we are. I never, ever thought I would sit holding my baby in my arms with my beautiful wife.”
The couple also confirmed that they have filmed the whole birth story with a documentary team from Channel 4 that will be aired next month.
Speaking about the reaction to Millie’s birth, Hannah said: “We have been so lucky. We have had such an outpouring of love coming towards us.
“From the LGBT+ community, from people who aren’t able to have babies and are thinking about the surrogacy option, and people who are in a very low place because of coronavirus and just want a bit of joy in their world. We feel very honoured that we are in the right place at the right time to be able to tell this happy story.
“It is lovely that other people can take joy from it, and that little girl is bringing some joy into the world right now.”
She added: “I never thought I would be in this position to be in a relationship, or be married, or have kids. Growing up as a young transgender person, I just felt that I was unlovable because that is what the mainstream media, what everyone in society is telling you.
“The fact that I have found Jake, we got married and having our little baby is amazing. We are really happy sharing our news with the world because we want other trans people to know that just before you are trans, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t settle for less and you should have all the joys of life like everyone else.”