Transgender Day of Remembrance yesterday gave me time to reflect. And I find it amazing that in this day and age we still have prejudice and hatred towards trans people.

Yes you could bring sexuality into it too but I don’t want to focus on that as it would be going off topic.

I’m pretty lucky, the fact is I’ve never been attacked for being transsexual other than been verbally attacked and called names. It’s a pretty big contrast to these days when all I seem to get is guys shouting ‘nice tits’ at me!

I used to think I had it tough but boy was I wrong.

Meeting so many other trans people made me appreciate just what I have.

Some of the pain and torture trans folk have to go through daily is beyond a joke. And its people who have no morals and no common sense that ruin this world.

I met a young trans guy recently. He was only 17. He looked super cute and to me just like any other regular guy because he is. He brought me some chocolates to my work as a thank you for being a role model to him and other people.

It shocked me to be honest because I’ve never really seen myself in that way. I’ve tried to help the community as much as I can by doing talks in schools, mentor training for cyber-mentors, doing talks in universities and that kind of thing but still I don’t feel I have the right to say ‘I’m a role model’.

What made me more upset and disgusted about society is that he got beaten up just for being trans! His eyes were all black and swollen and he had to have an op on his nose to fix after what these bullies had done to him.

He was minding his own business on the bus when they turned to him and said: ‘Are you a boy or a girl?’

Seriously, what? Don’t fucking ask this question you gimp!

He turned to them and said he was a boy and they turned back and asked why his voice was high.

He hadn’t started hormone treatment yet as you have to be 18 in the UK to do that, which again is something I’ve been trying to change!

He got off the bus and they followed him!

Then they caught up with him and beat him! Why, why, why?

It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear stories like this but to actually see someone who has gone through this in person is just sickening and heart breaking. It just makes me realize is we are still no closer to being accepted and its wrong. It needs to stop.

We need to take advice from the SOPHIE charity and Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred, Intolerance Everywhere.

So please just take the time out this week to remember what others like me have to go through.

People have lost their lives just because they are transgendered. And if someone is happy, then why should anyone else be bothered by it?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to others. We need to make people more aware about Transgender Day of Remembrance and show everyone that we are just like them. We are all soft and pink on the inside.

Embrace who you are. Be who you are. And most importantly, show who you are.

Drew-Ashlyn Cunningham won hearts and won over minds against prejudice across the UK when she was one of the stars of Channel 4 show My Transsexual Summer. She now contributes regularly to Gay Star News.