LGBTI+ campaigner Joanne Monck OBE tells us of her transitional journey from her own personal darkness into the light

In our brand new Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community. They’re not always seen but we think they should be.

SPOTLIGHT

Joanne Monck OBE, FRSA

Joanne Monck works tirelessly in support of the LGBTQI community. Her company, From Darkness to Light and Beyond has taken her across the UK and Europe. Here Joanne tells us of her journey in her own words.

So, do you know what it’s like to be transgender? Unless you are transgender, the answer will be no. However, do you understand, and are aware of, what it’s like to be transgender? When you were born, try to imagine a tree being planted. Over the years that tree would grow with its trunk and branches shaping your personality and strengths, and the roots feeding you for the rest of your life.

David was born in 1955. (I’ve given my age away now.) At his birth, an imaginary tree was planted. Over the years that tree would grow. Its trunk and branches would shape David’s personality, character and strengths. However, the roots were never his. Th ey belonged to Joanne who would feed him with her thoughts, emotions and desires until he released her from the body she was incarcerated in.

Th is is what it’s like to be transgender. Th at was to take 58 years. David knew at about the age of fi ve that he should have been born a girl. All his friends were girls. He couldn’t tell his parents how he felt. His sex had been decided by what was between his legs, and not what his brain was telling him.

He was bullied constantly at school. His battle to validate his life as a male took its toll. In his early 20s he was buying women’s clothes on the pretence of buying them for a girlfriend. He would wear them whenever he was on his own and in private. His mental health took a downward spiral because of the intensity of his feelings, and Joanne’s powerful infl uence over him.

Over the years that [imaginary] tree would grow. Its trunk and branches would shape David’s personality, character and strengths. However, the roots were never his

He had a nervous breakdown. His emotions were draining him. However, he was alive and just battled on hoping the thoughts of being a woman would go away. He got married and had twin boys. His wife sadly died when they were 18 years old.

It wasn’t until a dark day in 2014 when he had had enough, and he contemplated taking his own life. Shortly afterwards he accepted his destiny to be a woman and released me from his body. You see, David had to die in order to let me live.

My two boys were very accepting and understanding. After my gender reassignment surgery in 2017, one of my boys came to visit me at home, and out of the blue, said, “Is it OK if I call you mum now?“ Even my father said he understood.

I developed a passion for raising awareness of the issues faced by the transgender community. I didn’t want others to have to go through what I had during my life as David. Initially I volunteered for South East Coast Ambulance as a Community fi rst responder, and was asked to be a Diversity Champion for them. Th ese positions were short lived after I was diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

I believed and I achieved

I was asked to join the Sussex Police Transgender External Reference Group. Th is advisory panel was set up to help bust the myths and stigmas attached to the transgender community and help the Force to engage more proactively with this minority community. Indeed, Sussex Police are extremely inclusive with their workforce and I personally know several people who are a part of the LGBT community.

My work with the Transgender reference group, quickly lead to me being asked to serve on several other groups including hate crime, (which is rife in the LGBTQI community), stop and search and use of force, and the Force Contact and Control centre. I’ve become a ‘critical friend’ to Sussex Police and in 2020 was presented with a Chief Constable’s Commendation.

Because of the social climate of the 1950s and 1960s, David was not able, or even felt comfortable, talking to his parents. Neither was there any support from organisations such as Mermaids. He had to do his best to hide the feelings he had that he should have been a girl.

And that was what eventually led to mental health issues. In the UK, puberty blockers can be prescribed to children that are identifi ed as having gender dysphoria (a deepseated belief that they should have been born the opposite sex). However, we as a society, and responsible parents, MUST be sure it is not just a phase which may be grown out of. It is crucial that parents support their children, but also not push them into something that they don’t want. Whilst Mermaids is under investigation, which I can’t comment on, it has always been there as a charity to support young transgender children and their families. Hormone replacement therapy by UK law cannot be given to anyone under the age of 16 and gender reassignment surgery is not off ered without intense psychological evaluation until at least the age of 18. Had organisations like Mermaids been available to David and his parents when he was young, then maybe David wouldn’t have had to suff er the way he did. However, that’s life. David was always searching for his rainbow. It may have taken him 58 years but he found it. Th ere was no pot of gold at the end of it though, just sacksful of happiness. My motto is ‘Believe to Achieve’. Believe in your destiny and ability in order to achieve success and happiness. After starting my transition, I did just that. My education business ‘From Darkness to Light and Beyond’ has lead me

It is crucial that to talk to organisations all over the country and Europe. I share my story parents support their as an Independent schools role model to students, telling them it’s OK to be children, but also who you want to be. not push them into In 2020 I was the highlighted winner of We Are Th e City Top 100 something that they don’t want RisingStars in the Diversity category. Following a recommendation from the Prime Minister, I was given what I believe is the highest honour ever given to anyone for Services to Transgender Equality; an OBE in our late Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours. I was runner-up and highly commended in the Sussex Business Awards in 2022. I am also now an Ambassador and Consultant for three national and one international organisations. I am also Director of Global Education and EDI for Believe Global CIC, and Director of EDI for the Believe Foundation, a new totally inclusive domestic abuse charity launching in 2023. I’m also a Fellow of the RSA. www.believeglobal.org www.thebelievefoundation.org.uk