News today that a well known British boxing match promoter, Frank Maloney is undergoing gender reassignment therapy and has been living as Kellie for a year. More interesting perhaps is the coverage and how the news came out.
Kellie announced it herself by giving an interview to the Sunday Mirror. The newspaper is the Sunday edition of a popular "red top" daily which is aimed at the lower paid. The piece is entirely supportive, at the start it explains;
The tough-talking promoter and manager guided Lennox Lewis to become Britain’s first undisputed World Heavyweight Champ for nearly a century.
Millions watched as he celebrated in the ring with the boxer after his 1992 triumph. He became a household name.
But outside the ropes, Frank was embroiled in a secret, agonising fight of his own – one he feared he could never win, let alone share with the world.
Until now.
The interview then goes on to discuss her dysmorphia and her explaining how she felt she was born in the wrong body. It explains how she has lived as a woman for a year, has been receiving hormone therapy and therefore is about halfway through the process of transition. It goes on to explain the NHS guidelines that somebody do this for two years before reassignment surgery is authorized. (At that point she will be able to get a Certificate which will change her birth certificate etc.)
The BBC has reported on the interview and adds:
Boxing journalist Steve Bunce tweeted: "Frank Maloney is possibly the bravest person in boxing. How can anybody give him stick? You have to just smile and say: "Go on girl!""
The BBC piece is particularly interesting in how it is a textbook example of how to use personal pronouns in these circumstances. Throughout Kellie is referred to as "she" however for the background segments when she was Frank, "he" is used. A couple of examples:
Maloney, 61, retired from involvement in boxing last October. At the time, he said: "Boxing has given me some great times but it's not the same business I grew to love anymore.
She said she was sure she could have done her job in boxing as a female but her plans now focused on helping others going through a similar process and "mentally preparing myself for the rest of my life".