Alison Holley - My Story
My name is Alison Holley, my pronouns are she/her, and I’m a 65-year-old transgender woman. I work in a leading lingerie store and volunteer at the Saint Francis Hospice shop in Romford. On 30th April 2024, I transitioned, and my life has changed beyond anything I could have imagined.
I see myself for who I am: a trans woman. I am not a cisgender woman. I never can be, and I don’t claim to be. But I am a woman, and I expect to be treated as one, with dignity and respect, just as I show to others.
For decades, I lived a life of secrecy and shame. I knew from the age of five that I was in the wrong body, but growing up in the 1960s, there was no support - only fear. I spent nearly 60 years pretending, avoiding friendships, and battling loneliness. At times, I even hoped I wouldn’t wake up. My life felt like a charade.
Then, in 2021, tragedy struck. My beautiful sister passed away, and while sorting through her home with my niece, she told me her 16-year-old daughter had a girlfriend and proudly said, “I’m proud of who I am.” I was so proud of her, but that night, I cried myself to sleep. At 61, I had never allowed myself that pride. Losing my sister made me realise life is short. Things had to change.
By 2022, I was living full-time as Alison. The transformation was monumental. I went from walking with my head down to holding it high, smiling, and feeling joy for the first time in decades. My mental health soared. In Bangkok, on 30th April 2024, I had surgery to become the woman I always knew I was. Recovery was tough, but every scar reminds me of what I overcame. Today, I’m happier, healthier, and proud of who I am.
Yet, despite following every UK protocol, the Supreme Court now says I am not legally a woman. Anti-trans legislation is rising, and the UK has fallen to one of the worst places in Western Europe for trans rights. After all I’ve endured, the mental anguish, isolation, prejudice, I fear for my safety and wonder if my future lies abroad.
Still, I remain proud, optimistic, and hopeful. My message is simple: life is short, be brave, be yourself. It’s worth everything.
Click here to read the Alison's full story.
