Debates on professional and non professional social networking sites are something I avoid, however, a particular debate recently lured me into the gladiator arena with my net and trident.

The question : Is it acceptable and right to deny a transgender client .. and so it started.. many therapists went on a tangent about having the right to refuse men, they could not simply get to grips that firstly they are discriminating (be it black, white, gay, straight whatever!) and secondly this is not about TRANSVESTITES (not that it would matter) but about transsexuals.

I jumped in to ask if the individual had been rude or threatening? No, the therapist just felt ‘uncomfortable’. Well I am sorry, to me this is not acceptable it is down to ignorance and prejudice (in my opinion) and I have to say made my blood pressure raise!

Transsexuals are not freaks or subjects for laughter and ridicule and they certainly should not be treated in a way that they feel ashamed of themselves in ANY WAY!. The battle they have emotionally, mentally, socially and physically, in my eyes make them one of the bravest people on the planet. Do you really think they would choose to be spat at in the street or punched or neglected and shunned by friends and family?

I know of a very special person, a close friend of many years, who has spent years in turmoil and has tried to take her life on more than one occasion, not because of who she is but of the social neglect and ignorance that surrounds her. She has been kicked in the face and abused, lost family and  work but she still battles on.

Transgender individuals have to undergo huge challenges to change. They first have to live as a woman, take daily doses of hormone that not only drastically change the body shape but also places them in a huge roller coaster of emotional high and lows,  they have to change their name by deed poll and continue years of psychoanalysis before even discussing ‘The Op’.

The fact that they come to a beauty therapist for help in their transition is for me personally a great honor. Plus they make the best of clients, they take great pride in their skin, hair and nails.

All I ask of any one is stop and think of what they endure on a daily basis, the mere fact that you may feel uncomfortable will disappear when you actually realise they are human beings with feelings and emotions.

If this was a sibling of yours would you turn your back on them? after all really it is not down to what is going on with them more how you deal with it, how you react and conduct yourself speaks louder volumes.

Transgender, Gay, Black, White, Straight, Muslim, Christian… they are all labels to me… look beyond the label to the individual that is more than likely kind, funny, intelligent and more importantly AMAZING!