www.LivinDoll.org.uk Safety First
13 :	Risk Reduction when out

REPORT UK TRANS HATE CRIME HERE

Report Transphobic Incidents Online(Northern Ireland)

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2002 9:26 AM

Dear Joy,

I've never sent my story to a publication such as yours, but I have had lots of encouragement to do so, and forget about the novel I'm writing and just write to help people succeed in probably the hardest thing that someone could set out to do, and that list includes astronauts, doctors, Members of Parliament and just about any profession that requires a lot of extreme personal dedication and sacifice, absolute commitment and a personal strength that goes beyond the typical sterotypes of what real "strength" is ( an inner resolve that can withstand teasing, physical abuse and assaults that almost kill you). Transsexuals possess such depths of passion and absolute surity, traits that must be recognized and applauded for the sheer inner power it takes to complete the change, but unfortunately, psychologists dismiss it as an overpowering delusion.

I personally ran from six men that wanted to perform bodily harm. I was lucky, because a couple of women saw what was happening, and rushed out and dragged me in their house. I took a cab home.
The next time I wasn't so lucky, but this guy just hit me once, knocked me backward, and broke my leg. He even got on the same bus. Naturally, the bus driver phoned the R.C.M.P. and an ambulance.
The next time I almost didn't make it. Ironically, I'd been on hormones for 5 years by then, and I had breasts, a nice female body, and a nice female face. I worked as a full time sales representative, and for some reason, I accepted a job in an after hours club. (STUPID ME) What I didn't know, was the guy spiked my drink with that rohypnol stuff, and he could basically have his way with me. I do remember him standing over me with his erect member pointing at my face. After that, it was all a blur, and my first memory was waking up in St. Paul's Hospital. I think he found out I was a pre-op transsexual, and was very angry that I had fooled him, and he stabbed me and left me outside to die. I would have died from loss of blood ( I was stabbed 6 times), but a good Samaritan drove me to the hospital and basically saved my life.

Those are just some of the more violent events that happened to me while I went through my transformation.
The funny thing now is, people find it hard to tell what I was, and they just see me as a woman.

I hope you could use this story in your site, as it does imply that you should not give up if that's what your heart wants.

Danae Fitzgerald

To anyone reading this who is afraid to come out of the closet, for goodness sake don't be put off. The above example is a very rare and extreme example of criminal violence which was just as likely to happen to any woman! Statistics show it is those dressed as men who are most likely to be attacked, e.g. at football matches.

Report any harrassment to your local Police Community Safety Unit, or online. They are extremely understanding these days: REPORT UK TRANS HATE CRIME HERE

However, any girl should take sensible precautions when out:

• Wherever possible, let someone know where you are going and when you will be back;
• Don't flaunt yourself in public;
• Take a mobile phone (but don't flash it around);
• Don't use unlicensed taxis;
• Avoid walking alone in a rough area at night, groups of men, etc;
• If you feel threatened, head for light and people, not dark corners.

Take a Safety Quiz here!

And if you are still a bit worried, remember although it may not be ideal, your own situation isn't nearly as bad as Danae's was. Like her, we are nearly always accepted these days without a murmur. Like other women we are inappropriate for most men to attack, since we are no threat to them.

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