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Ms Sugar Swan

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – my memories of past Prides

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – my memories of past Prides

My first experience of a Pride event was back in 1997, some 20 years ago. A fresh-faced 16-year-old kid, who knew she was trans but only in her wildest dreams did she think she could transition, made her way to Clapham Common for Pride London. I was absolutely terrified as I made my way there with m

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – ‘You need to be more ladylike’

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – ‘You need to be more ladylike’

Those 6 words. Those 6 words that I have heard over and over again in many different guises since I began transition feed into a cis narrative in which I neither belong, nor wish to. The OED defines ‘lady’ as ‘a polite or formal way of referring to a woman’. Well, I am a woman, so therefore, I am a

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – Looking Forward by Ms Sugar Swan

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – Looking Forward by Ms Sugar Swan

Today sees me one week post op of my fourth, and hopefully last, hair transplant surgery. Back in late February I headed to Latvia after a long search for a surgeon who would take on my hair restoration case. A tricky one due to the very advanced state of my balding. In April’s Gscene I covered the

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – A scary walk down memory lane

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar – A scary walk down memory lane

The Brighton Sauna was always a mainstay in my life. When I moved to Brighton at 20, some 15 years ago, bars were open until 12, clubs until 2 and no night was complete without “finishing off”, take that as you will, in the sauna.

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar: Trans exclusionary feminism by Ms Sugar Swan

OPINION: Transitioning with Sugar: Trans exclusionary feminism by Ms Sugar Swan

When I came out very publicly as trans, I was flooded with love and respect and within the first month of ‘being out’ half a dozen people had contacted me and come out as trans. Some of them I knew from Brighton, some I didn’t, but they all had the same message for me: “Thank you for talking about t

FEATURE: Transitioning with Sugar – Sugar’s Big Hair Trip – Part 1

FEATURE: Transitioning with Sugar – Sugar’s Big Hair Trip – Part 1

Latvia, a country neighbouring Russia, regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1992 and decriminalised homosexuality soon after, however, general social opinion has not moved on much since then. In 2005, Riga, the capital city, held its first Pride but unfortunately counter protesters greatly

FEATURE: Transitioning with Sugar: Hair today – gone tomorrow

FEATURE: Transitioning with Sugar: Hair today – gone tomorrow

I remember a time in the late 1980’s when I was in school and my hair was long and my mother said I needed it cut for the school photographs. Obviously, being a little trans girl I didn’t want my hair cut, so, in an act of defiance, whilst my father who took me to the barbers was outside having a ci

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