Transsexual woman called Mr by cleaning firm

From sthelensreporter.co.uk

A transsexual woman has told of her humiliation after she was given the title “Mr” on her P45.
Alison Jane Stokes says the administrative error added insult to injury after she lost her job with the local office of Bristol-based firm Mitie Cleaning.

Alison, 32, of Grange Park, who was born Andrew Stokes, says the contract, which involved cleaning St Helens Job Centre, soured after colleagues found out that she used to sign on as a man.

She said: “It was humiliating and upsetting to be called ‘Mr’ on my P45. I changed my name in 2002 and I’m a ‘Miss’ on my driving licence, on my National Insurance card and in all my correspondence from the Inland Revenue. I got the job as Alison Jane Stokes – surely that’s all that matters.

“It all went through the unions when I lost my job and the company ended up offering me my job back, but I couldn’t go back after that.”

Alison, who is currently unemployed but runs a voluntary training programme which promotes the understanding of transsexuality, is now in the process of getting a new birth certificate courtesy of the Gender Recognition Act.

HUMILIATION: Alison Stokes

She also says she is tired of being followed by petty name-calling and thinks old-fashioned attitudes are hampering her from getting a job.

Alison, who said she hopes to run an independent campaign to become a councillor in Grange Park, added: “All I want is a job and to be treated the same as everyone else.

“I feel I’m being sniggered at constantly because of who I am. I’d hate to think this is happening to someone else too.”

A spokesman for Mitie Cleaning declined to comment.