AUGUST 2019 • 73time ever—in order to live as a
woman full time. I was only looking
for a six-month lease at first, but it
turned into the rest of my life!
I work as the commercial director
of a facilities management company
and I’ve got 30 years of continuous
service. Transitioning was difficult
because my role is very public. Even
though I’d started living as “her”,
I still had to be “him” at work.
One day I stayed in Lincoln for work
and changed back to being Samantha
at the end of the
day. I’d had such a
lovely night that
the next day I
drove all the way
back as Samantha.
When I reached a
gas station near
work, I changed
into a corporate
suit ready for the
office. When I
arrived, I sat in a
meeting about fairness, inclusion and
respecting diversity—I thought to
myself, What am I doing?
The decision was made. I started
telling key people in the business. My
MD came to visit me, having heard of
my separation, and when I explained,
he said, “This is great, don’t worry.”
I sent out 400 emails before my
surgery, including a picture and
explaining the upcoming changes.
I got around 250 responses. Some of
them were really honest—oneREADER’S DIGESTcolleague who’s known me for 27
years said he couldn’t pretend to
understand, but he wished me the
best of luck.
When I returned to work, I noticed
some people avoiding me. People
worry about getting it wrong and it
makes them nervous, but you can’t
expect people to get it right straight
away. All people need to do is be kind.
Now I want to help others. I started
a VINCI LGBT+ group and our first
meeting was in April 2017. It went so
well that I did another
six months later,
with groups in
Birmingham,
Manchester and
London all connected
via Skype. To help
industry-wide, I joined
and helped a group
called LGBT+ in
Facilities Management
to move forward. We
now have a strategy
and vision—to make our industry the
most inclusive, attractive and happy
for LGBT employees in the UK.
I think activism helps me. And my
community has been so supportive.
Ahead of my major surgery even my
dry-cleaning lady said, “Don’t worry
Samantha, I’ll bring you your
shopping if you need me to.”
Transitioning has made me come
out of myself by necessity. But I like
living openly and honestly, it’s nice to
finally be able to do that.I WAS
WORRIED
THAT I’D COME
OUT AND
THEN END UP
ON THE
STREET.
.