I am doing a couple of events for Trans Day of Visibility (Wednesday 31 March).
Katy Montgomerie’s TDOV livestream
I’ll be joining Katy Montgomerie‘s TDOV livestream, in which she will “talk to a load of cool trans people about whatever!” I’m dropping by for the start of the event at circa 19:00 BST (British Summer Time) – join us for chill times, and stick around for conversations with a load of great trans thinkers, writers, and Youtubers. You can watch through the link below:
Spectra Interview
I did an interview with Joanne Espada for Spectra’s Trans Programme. We spoke about the Trans Learning Partnership, the background to my research work, and my decision to become “visibly” trans in my mid-20s after several years living stealth. You can watch the full thing through the link below!
Dr Ruth Pearce 
Dear Ruth.
My name is Diane Sparkes and I added a comment 11/12/2020 on your website about my thoughts on the UK Government rethink of the GRA, to which I also submitted my suggestions although I could never find it on the internet as I live in New Zealand and do not know where to look and there has been no individual response from the organiser.
As I said in my comment I have just turned 80 so I guess that should afford me some recognition.
Born in England in 1940 I emigrated to NZ at 23 arriving in Feb 1964. Completing a government contract, I was employed as and became a highly skilled analytical engineer in the field of medical equipment and scientific instrumentation from 1966. So although I had a very responsible life I was never free of the reality that a transsexual diagnosis gave me.
Of course, even by the time I was certain something was not right with my body, I would not find out until many years later what. Which as you see in my attached work left me to question Why and what caused me to be different.
Hopefully, you will get some idea by reading what I have written.
I also retrained as a High School teacher which is why I understand the importance of education.
What I have never understood is why so many in the medical profession ignore what transsexuals have to say , as surely many must be a great source of experience especially old ones like me who thankfully escaped the effects of social media. Never considered it valid, too much misinformation for an analyst!
Only please understand there is so much more to say and in my case, I hold nothing back, so if you wish ask me anything.
Only for me at my age logically I donât know how long I will be around.
So I would love to hear from you. Google my name (add NZ) after it as I have tried to support the NZ community for some time now writing on many of the issues that matter.
I see you will be speaking with Katie Montgomerie so hopefully, you will get this email before you do, you never know there may be something useful in it. As NZ is 12hours ahead I am not sure if the talk will be online at a later stage.
Looking forward to a reply
Diane Sparkes