Jo: My tears over Mayo’s show haters
Family on their abuse struggle Deed poll sex changes soar
FLOP Simon & Jo Whiley RADIO DJ Jo Whiley has revealed how she was “tearful a lot of the time” during a campaign of hate against her.
Jo, 53, became a target during her ill-fated stint on Radio 2’s drivetime show with stalwart Simon Mayo.
She said: “There was this wall of resistance to me from a very vocal bunch.
‘It was hurtful, insulting. It made me look at who I am not just as a broadcaster. It’s too easy to hate these days.”
Jo, who now has an evening programme, told Event magazine: “It was relentless, I was tearful quite a lot of the time.”
■ Chris Evans, 52, said he aims to involve his wife and kids as much as possible when he starts his new breakfast show on Virgin Radio next Monday. RECORD numbers of kids are switching gender by deed poll.
The £35 changes often include a new first name too, according to UK Deed Poll Service.
Louise Bowers said: “We used to issue a couple every few months, now it’s seven to 10 a week. The majority are teens – 14 or 15 – but they go down to 10.”
The first child under 16 to adopt the gender-neutral title “Mx” made the change this month.
Parental approval is needed to change the name of an under-16. They can also pay £8 to replace words like “son”, “daughter”, “he” and “she” to conceal birth sex. BRITAIN’S first transgender family said they have been shunned and abused after letting their five-year-old switch gender.
Little Jayden Rogers, who was born a boy, lives with her mum, Jody, 21, and stepdad Greg Rogers, 27, who was born a woman.
They are thought to be Britain’s first two-generation transgender family. They have suffered trolls’ online insults and say other parents refuse to let their children play with Jayden, who loves dressing up as Princess Anna from the film Frozen.
One neighbour reported them anonymously to social services.
Greg said: “They say it’s cruel we let her wear a dress.
“Is it not more cruel to do nothing when you have a kid so adamant she’s a girl she’s ripping her hair off and banging her head off the walls?
“We sought professional advice as Jayden was four when this started. We contacted our health visitors, GP, the school, who have offered help.”
Mum Jody added: “All we want is for Jayden to be happy and proud of who she is, whatever that might be.”
Greg and student Jody, of Shotts, North Lanarks, say they have been accused of encouraging Jayden.
Greg, who transitioned aged 16, said: “It’s ridiculous. Jayden knows nothing about my past. She just knows me as ‘dad’.
“Having been through this myself, I have conflicting emotions about her deciding she doesn’t want to be a boy. It’s not an easy life.
“I don’t think there is a single transgender person on the planet who would push that on a child. We can’t fix society but we can help Jayden to be happy with who she is.
“I went through horrific amounts of abuse so I’d never abandon a child in a similar situation.”
The couple say they buy both boys’ and girls’ clothing and tell her they will love her regardless of whether she wants to be a boy or a girl.
Jody met Jayden’s biological dad when she was 16 but says her ex has not been involved in the youngster’s life.
Single mum Jody then met Greg three years ago after trying online dating and they set up home together about nine months ago.
Jody knew from the start Greg had changed gender aged 16. She said: “As soon as I met him, I had no fears. He’s just a typical man.”
The family lived a “normal life” until Jayden, who was born with partial hearing, recovered from an ear operation last February.
Jody said: “She started talking for the first time really and, weeks later, told us she hates being a boy and that she’s actually a girl.
“She wanted to wear girl’s clothes so we decided to go with the flow. Some people have a problem with her wearing a dress and Batman shoes.”
While some neighbours criticised the couple, another added: “Although it was a bit odd seeing Jayden in a dress, nobody cares.” GREG ROGERS ON LIFE WITH TRANSGENDER CHILD
We can’t fix society but we can help Jayden to be happy with who she is
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