Mum-of-three: “I go on the pull with my transgender hubby”

Claire Atkins was shocked when husband Marcus wanted to be a woman – now they’re looking for men t og ether

hen Claire Atkins’ W husband of six years, Marcus, announced he was transgender, the mum-of-three was devastated – but incredibly she vowed to support him.

Amazingly, they now go out on the pull together and Claire says that rather than destroying their relationship, since Marcus became a woman called Celeste they’ve got on better than ever.

Nurse Claire – who lives in Langworth, Lincolnshire, with Celeste, 37, their two children aged nine and six, and Claire’s 15-year-old daughter from a previous relationship – says: “When Marcus confessed he wanted to live as a woman my world fell apart.

“The Marcus I’d fallen in love with was handsome and so manly – it felt like our whole marriage had been a lie. But I knew it took a lot of courage and, despite everything, I still loved him, so I vowed to support him. Now, we get on better than ever, and living together works as we can both spend lots of time with the kids, who’ve accepted him as a woman.

“We go shopping and I help Celeste with her make-up and clothes. On nights out, she gets more attention from men than me, but we have different types.”

LIVING A LIE

Celeste – who had full genderreassignment surgery in December – adds: “When I told Claire, I didn’t imagine she’d be so supportive. Now I’d like to help her find Mr Right.”

Claire, 41, met Marcus in 2005, through mutual friends. She says: “I was instantly attracted. He was shy but we got on really well.”

Unknown to Claire, Marcus was struggling with his gender.

Celeste says: “I’d always felt different growing up. My dad encouraged me to play football, but I preferred dolls and girls’ clothes. I hated puberty and the changes to my body but I didn’t understand why.

“At 16, I left school and became a mechanic to please my family. I had girlfriends but only because I felt like I should. Deep down I knew I’d been born in the wrong body, but I was too scared to admit it.

“When I met Claire, we clicked. I told myself I’d been going through a phase and threw myself into the relationship.”

The pair initially had a healthy sex life and got engaged after six months, and married later that year. In May 2006, they had their son, followed by their daughter in 2009.

But their relationship began to deteriorate. Celeste says: “I was depressed and our sex life was non-existent because I didn’t feel comfortable in my body. I began drinking heavily and Claire suspected I was having an affair.”

In December 2012, Marcus realised he couldn’t cope any more and admitted the truth.

Celeste recalls: “Our relationship had suffered so