Meet our new Lothian Transgender Support Worker: Ryan

Hello! I’m Ryan (he/him) and I’ve just started at LGBT Health and Wellbeing as the Development Worker for the Lothian Transgender Support Programme (LTSP).

I wanted to work for an LGBT organisation for as long as I can remember – at least since my early teenage years, when I found myself in need of someone to talk to about my own sexuality and relationships. There was no support available in my town, however, and it made me think of all the other people struggling to find a listening ear. If only there was a person to reach out to or a safe space to meet others like me – we could get together and build something for our community! Unfortunately, due to family reasons and the situation in my home country, pursuing this path was not a possibility, so I had to put that dream on hold.

Fast forward to a few years after arriving in Scotland, I started exploring my gender identity and came across the Transition Support Course – a weekend event ran by Jules, where I was first able to make some trans friends. Not long after, a few of us were approached and asked if we would be interested in reactivating Trans Men Scotland – a community group that was dormant for a while but badly needed. With the help of LGBT Health and Wellbeing we were able to run our monthly meetings, we took over the Facebook group and changed the name to Trans Masculine Scotland to encourage non-binary folks on the masculine end of the gender spectrum to join us too.

I have been an active community member not only through my involvement in running the group. In 2016 I participated in a photoshoot for the LTSP programme to help promote the service – the photo attached comes from that session. Admittedly I look slightly different now, with most of my hair having migrated to the lower parts of my face…

Trans and non-binary folks are dealing with a number of issues in Scotland at the moment, but we are also some of the most resilient, welcoming and caring people I have ever met. I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to be joining the team – most of whom I have already met and/or worked with – and helping our community feel supported. I hope I get to see some of you in person as soon as we can and in the meantime I’m looking forward to running events from my own living room via Zoom.

You can also reach me at ryan@lgbthealth.org.uk. Stay safe and speak soon!