‘IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME I WASN’T LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER KIDS’ Llyr reveals what it’s like to be a young transgender person growing up in Wales
GROWING up in her Welshspeaking farming community teenager Llyr Jones “always knew” she was different. The 16-year-old was born a boy but is currently transitioning from male to female.
She has spoken out about what it is really like to be a young transgender person and go through gender reassignment, in the hope of giving others the confidence to be themselves.
“Honestly, I think it gradually clicked in my head more than a realisation,” she said.
“I always knew I was different. Growing up it slowly became very clear to me I wasn’t like any of the other kids.
“I really only realised when I started going to school, like when I wanted to take my doll in.
“I have quite accommodating par- ents who were happy for me to playy with anything – but that mentalityy was different when I went to school.
“This feeling carried on until I was 10-ish, when I saw a documentary about trans people and then started d going on YouTube and saw transgen- der role models.
“When they talked more aboutt their life and journey more thingss twigged with me and I decided to look into it.
“Before the documentary I had never known about it. The more I saw of it the more I thought ‘This makes sense. That is how I feel’.”
Llyr’s transformation will be covered in a BBC documentary called Sweet Sixteen: A Transgender Story, which goes out on Tuesday.
She hopes this will help others find the comfort she found from the documentary when she was 10.
Llyr, who lives near Aberystwyth, said: “Two of the best things have been knowing you are not alone – it is the best feeling in the world. To know you are not the only one in the area.
“Even a year ago I thought I was the only transgender person in this part of Wales. It is quite isolated and not talked about.
“Also going through the NHS and being treated for it. After going on the hormone blockers and growing your hair out you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and you realise how much you have changed.”
Gender reassignment is obviously a huge decision, especially for someone so young. For Llyr, looking back at old photos reassures her that she made the right decision.
“I know a lot of trans people get rid of all their old photos but I kind of love it,” said Llyr.
“I like looking at how much I have changed.
“One thing I do like about the photos is that when I look at them I see an unhappyppy p person. son. It is reassuring to know you thing.” For many trans people changing their name is a hugely symbolic moment. However Llyr has opted to keep the boy’s name she has had from birth. “Two transitions are never the same thing,” she explained. “For some people getting their name change is a big thing for them. “I thought that was what you had to do but it just never really sat right to change it. “LLyr is comfortable and anyone outside Wales thinks it’s a cool, edgy name. Why should a name match with a gender? “Even in Wales people get it wrong a and automated machines like at the doctors can’t pronounce it – I find it really funny. “Maybe it will always feel right – if n not I can change it.” Another major decision trans people face is how and when to tell their loved ones. Llyr first told her mother. “I knew for a very long time and the hardest thing was telling people that were close to me,” she said. “Those who matter really don’t c care because they genuinely love y you as a person. “I first told my mum and that is when we started see the GP. Then I told my dad. “Word came out very quickly at s school. I am not a popular person a at school but I am well known. “A letter was sent to all the teache ers to let them know. I had stopped d doing PE and some teachers felt are doing the right like this was unfair so they told them.
“From the majority of people I have only encountered support and love.”
According to Llyr it took her farmer father a little time to get his head around it.
She said: “You can understand because he is having to learn a whole new concept. He is so supportive but wanted to know what it meant.
“A lot of people didn’t know what to expect or how to react but he could see how happy I was.”
Llyr comes across as a confident and assertive young woman. She puts much of this confidence down to attending Swansea Sparkle – Wales’ biggest transgender event.
Llyr said: “When I had told mum we started looking for support groups in the area. Even now I don’t know everything down to a tee.
“The nearest support network was in Swansea. This was a bit far but not like London.
“Sparkle was a big eye-opener and gave me a lot of confidence. We were all different ages but are in the same boat and can support each other. I was 15 and that was such a confidence boost.”
Llyr is currently undergoing hormone treatment and is relieved the process has begun. She had to go through many interviews and steps to reach this stage.