As we celebrated International Transgender Day of Visibility on Sunday 31st March, we spoke to a local community member who is going above and beyond to support trans rights and advocates for trans people. Sarah Marsh joined the Liberal Democrats so she could help to initiate change from the inside. Not only is she working hard in Politics but she is also the Author of ‘Transcending Boundaries’, a book bringing together 50 incredible Trans stories. We wanted to know more about Sarah’s work and her personal experiences as a trans woman.
Sitting Down With Sarah
How has your transition impacted your self-perception and identity?
For the first time in my adult life (since puberty), I feel myself and awake.
Before ‘my egg broke’ (a term for the realisation that you are Trans), I was heavily disassociated. Day to day felt like I was living in a dream world (Yes, the film ‘The Matrix’ was written about the Trans experience). Crazy as it now seems, I never questioned my experience as being anything but normal. My past self almost seems to me like a memory from a film or book, not really me.
What challenges have you encountered during the transition process, and how did you overcome them?
By far the biggest problem for me, was accepting myself. The self-hate nearly ended by life, quite literally. However, overcoming the rejection of almost all family and friends has also been very challenging. The only way I could get through was by reading and studying about being Trans, socially, and biologically to accept and love myself for who I am.
What have been the most positive aspects of transitioning for you, and how have they influenced your personal growth?
Feeling alive and awake!
That is a such a privilege, and one that most people will not appreciate. Having connection to my emotions, quite literally learning how to feel has been a magical experience. Accepting femininity which I spent my life trying to hide.
In what ways does your role within the Liberal Democrats allow you to advocate for Transgender rights and contribute to creating a more inclusive political landscape?
As Diversity Officer, I am able to connect with minority groups and promote ALL equality, also within the party, I am very vocal, previously serving on the Council of England and meeting Ed Davey himself to promote equality. There has been so much support for working to a better society.
What inspired you to put together such a powerful book, and how did you go about finding different stories to be included?
The pain and difficulty of my own transition has really motivated me to try to help others. Through my transition I had learned so much about myself and developed some metaphors to make sense of my experiences, for example:
Having hypnosis training and experience, I could not understand how, after several weeks of trying, hypnosis was not helping with my dysphoria. It then occurred to me that, just like your mobile phone, there is hardware and software. I was trying to change the software to feel better. Once I went through my medical transition, my dysphoria ended.
What advice would you give to anyone considering or starting out their transition?
Stay safe first!
Secondly, try to connect with a ‘big sister’ or ‘big brother’ to help support and guide you through.
You can get your copy of Transcending Boundaries from Amazon here
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this blog post, we highly recommend visiting Galop a charity supporting LGBT+ people who have encountered abuse or violence https://galop.org.uk/
You are also welcome to Contact Us and we’ll do our best to put you in touch with local support. We also have a safe space group on Facebook which you can join – just get in touch and we’ll get you connected