‘I just felt like a girl’: Devon woman shares her transgender journey

Alysa Call was born a twin boy, but two decades later she transitioned into a woman.

The 35-year-old from Exeter was labelled ‘disgusting’ and forced to move homes because of a homophobic neighbour. But now she’s decided to speak out about her transgender journey – in the hope that she, and hundreds of others across the country, will finally become more accepted.

Alysa was born a twin boy to her brother Matt, but from the age of 5 she said she felt like she had been born into the wrong body.

Alysa kept how she felt a secret. She was fearful to go to school, thinking of excuses to get out of PE and just trying to fit in.

At 17, Alysa realised she had gender dysphoria, eventually going through gender re-alignment surgery at 22. But going through her journey in the city she’d grown up in, wasn’t easy.

Alysa’s twin brother Matt says he found watching her go through her journey hard.

Last year alone, 650 transgender people were the victims of transphobic crimes in England and Wales.

Determined to tell her story, Alysa spoke out on the Jeremy Kyle show. Since then, Alysa’s received thousands of messages on social media, praising her for speaking out.

The brother and sister are united in their conviction to stand up to prejudice and intolerance. For Matt he didn’t lose a brother, instead he gained an inspirational sister.

Watch Andrea Bishop’s full report here