This week, Gillian interviews Melissa D from Loving Me, who discusses her background as a late-transitioning trans woman from the West Midlands, her career shift from accounts clerk to social worker, and work in substance misuse and mental health before transitioning in her 40s.
Melissa explains Loving Me’s mission and services as the first UK domestic abuse service solely by and for trans and non-binary people, founded in 2022 after trans people were failed by existing domestic abuse systems, including inappropriate accommodation placements.
She describes how domestic abuse affects trans communities, highlighting identity-based and familial abuse, younger referral patterns, and barriers to safe accommodation, worsened by recent legal uncertainty. Loving Me runs the UK’s first trans and non-binary domestic abuse refuge, provides sector training and advocacy, is recruiting an 18–25 worker, and can be contacted via www.lovingme.uk, help@lovingme.uk, she also signposts Galop and other regional services.
00:00 Welcome
01:24 Melissa’s Transition Story
02:13 Late Transition Challenges
04:42 What Loving Me Does
07:15 Why Trans+ people Need DA Support
09:59 Barriers and Safe Housing
16:01 Refuge Model and Training
18:14 How to Get Help
21:57 Catchment and Confidentiality
23:20 Socials and Other Services
25:23 Final Thanks and Goodbye
You can contact us at gillian@transvox.co.uk and find out more at transvox.co.uk
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