Interview with Erika (pt 1)
- Reference Number: DW-94/1/11/1
- Date: 2013
- Level: Piece
- Extent: 1 item
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Description: 2- Bisexual and Trans, realised she was different from a very young age, didn?t fit in at school. Realised she was a woman in the 1950s, very difficult, no internet, homosexuality was illegal
3.30- Didn?t even know the words to ask, or who to ask about being Trans.
3.45- ?At the time that I?m talking about the attitude of doctors was that they would put you right with electric shock therapy rather than any other sort of help to achieve what you desired?
4.10- during puberty experimented with boyfriends and girlfriends discovered she liked both
5.45- when she was young would dress up in mother or sisters clothes, but was caught by mother and forced to move schools and hide
6.50- continued to have relationships with men and women, fell in love with a woman, who became pregnant, so they got married, and her focus became supporting the family
7.30- no equalities act that made sure women were paid equally so it made sense for her to work as a male, despite her own turmoil
8.10- project work away from home allowed her to still indulge fantasies whilst still providing for the family, and she ended up trying to fit in as a male by growing a large beard and learning the rules of football
9.40- desperately wanted to come out around 40, money was stable at this point so it would have been okay, but each time she built up to tell her wife, she couldn?t because of familial deaths and health scares on Erika?s part
11.20- this led to depression for a number of years
11.45- felt better telling her when they moved back to the west midlands ?but actually telling somebody that you love something that is going to totally destroy them and cause them great pain and grief was extremely difficult to do er in consequence I thought that the in the depth of my despair that the only possible solution was to remove myself from the scene by attempting suicide this I actually did at work where I was teaching um classes in electrical and electronic subjects maths and things like that and I attempted to slash my wrists but just as I was at the point of putting the scalpel to my veins somebody walked in stopped me and I dissolved into basically hysterics an my immediate manager was very kind and understanding and took me to see my doctor and I was then put into the hands of the um community mental health team interview with psychiatrist and um my gender dysphoria my hate of my male body um was diagnosed and from then on this would be about 2006 2007 I was begin my transition effectively I came out fully at work and to other people in 2008 and my male name had been Richard I asked people to call me Ricky as a duel name which could be either male or female but eventually changed it that Erika which is what I?m now called I changed my name by deed poll there was obviously still some drama and trauma involved?
14.40- most people at work were understanding and if not they were kind, though there were still a few pointed comments, this was a difficult time as she didn?t look very feminine
15.20- desperately trying to find a suitable wardrobe, may have had a few things before but living fully as a woman needed much more, ended up panic buying a lot of ill-fitting things
16- since then has changed name, got gender recognition certificate, new birth certificate showing she was born as a girl, female passport and driving licence
16.20- unfortunately had to annul marriage, they were married for over 40 years
16.40- kindness of friends and her beautician and hairdresser to help her be as feminine as possible
17.25- Gender identity centre in Charing Cross London, has been attending since she came out, talks about having bottom surgery, and also having breast augmentation surgery cancelled at the very last minute due to her medical history
18.40- ?but other than that I?m happy, I?m female, and enjoying life?
20.30- all 3 of her children have been very supportive, though they sometimes do still refer to her as dad
21.50- brother and sister also supportive, but like her son, her brother struggled a little, doesn?t have much contact with siblings, though his sister was kind and helpful and the name Erika was her idea, was happy to have a sister and Erika got to be a bridesmaid at her wedding
- Access Status: Open
- Contact: Wolverhampton Archives, Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies