Supporters rally around Livvy, the girl born a boy (From Worcester News)

Supporters rally around Livvy James, the girl born a boy

4:20pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By James Connell

THE mother of a girl trapped in a boy’s body says her daughter’s spirits have been lifted after more than 1,000 people signed a petition to give hope to others with gender dysphoria.

Livvy James, aged 10, of Worcester, was born a boy but has always known she was a girl and made the courageous decision to re-turn to school in Worcester as a girl last September.

We reported in your Worcester News on Monday how Livvy, a name assumed to protect her real identity, had battled suicidal thoughts but still wanted to help others in the same position through the petition, set up last Thursday by her mum, 37-year-old Saffy James.

The petition, which will eventually be handed in to the Press Association, objects to the use of words such as ‘sex-swap/change’, ‘tranny’ and ‘gender bender’ in the press and had attracted 1,072 signatures by the time your Worcester News went to press.

The petition argues that these terms compound problems for transgender people who are being beaten, murdered, threatened, bullied, teased, intimidated and disowned.

Mrs James says in the petition that people with gender dysphoria are also at risk of self-harm and suicide.

Mrs James said: “I’m impressed with the response. It’s great. I’m heartened by it. Some people are saying it won’t do any good. At the end of the day this much publicity has to do some good, especially during the Leveson Inquiry.” She also thanked people who had left positive comments on the Worcester News website.

She said: “Comments have gone from being completely negative with a few positives to having more positive comments than negative which can only mean education is starting to work.”

She believes support is growing because the family has never given in.

She said: “Who would choose to keep doing all this if it didn’t actually mean something to them? We woundn’t just keep banging our heads against a brick wall for nothing.”