First an introduction

   

 Firstly my name is Karen Richards and i work as a site/ project/ manager and a freelance Health & Safety adviser  (trade background).
I myself identify as transgender ( pre-op transsexual to be more precise)  & I have Gender Identity disphoria which is a genetic medical condition , not an illness or Mental disorder as some would assume. 
 What does that mean you may ask? Imagine waking up every day with your mind in the wrong body ? A true nightmare that I have lived with for over 40 years . One myth is that transgendered people are homosexual, this is so untrue - gender identity has nothing to do with sexuality.  The fact is it is now estimated that one in four thousand people in the UK are receiving some form of medical treatment / counselling for a gender identity issue. This means their could be as many as 155,000 potential transsexuals in the UK alone. The population of Cross dressers/transvestites is at least five times higher.

I have been working in the retail construction sector for 24 years, I like, most kept it closeted for years which led to low self esteem,alcohol abuse and depression that was  until five years ago when I was made redundant from a well known shopfitting contractor and I made what a decision to live my life how I wanted and not conform to the industry stereotype    . Some say I am brave some say I am stupid, but I did it. No as you may think I didn’t start coming to site wearing  , make- up ,a dress or high heels  (and still don't but my changes were gradual and more subtle. I grew my hair out, dyed it and it is now cut in a feminine bob style , my eye brows are shaped and tinted , nails manicured with clear polish toes painted (although you never see them for the safety boots) .

Has this cost me work –yes, do I get treated different to others on site- definitely  , but not to my face it’s the whispers and snigger's behind my back which hurt. Although once my colleagues get to know me this gets less  and less.  I probably have to prove my ability more than anyone to be able to hold any position and it always seems to be me who is first in the queue for being laid off.

I have also taken a very active role in the Trans community as a committee member of Manchester Concord www.manchesterconcord.org.uk which is a social /support group based in Manchester and also a trustee/ organiser of Sparkle -the national transgender celebration www.sparkle.org.uk which is the largest gathering of transgender people worldwide .
The purpose of this blog is to share my life experiences as a transgerderd person working in the construction industry, to highlight where I have met prejudice , the highs , the lows & incidents that sometimes seem completely bizarre.
For the protection of others I will not name specific companies , sites , or any personnel involved as this is not the point of this blog