Category: Generate

Generate literally saved my life and changed it for the better. I genuinely don’t think I could have gotten here without Generate. When I started attending, I was at my lowest, I was desperate for support and to feel part of a community and had little hope for the future. I was just trying to get from one week to the next, but now my life couldn’t be more different.  

I first went to Generate around 6 years ago. At the time, my confidence and self-esteem were very low, and I was incredibly nervous about attending. I hadn’t met any other trans people before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I nearly backed out at the last minute, but I was desperate for support.

That first session changed everything. I listened intently as people shared their stories; some still figuring things out, some at a similar stage of their journey to myself, some years into their transitions. People shared generously and openly, and for the first time so did I. It felt different than the conversations I’d had with friends and family. I was used to either confusion or judgement when I spoke about my gender identity. It couldn’t have been more different at Generate.

There’s been joy throughout my transition, but there has also been a lot of significant challenges.  Generate not only helped me to navigate more easily through the complex journey of transitioning but also gave me something to look forward to when things were bleak. In addition to being a safe and accepting space, the way that everyone celebrates each other’s wins and offers words  of kindness and support when things aren’t so good meant it became a very important part of my life.

I met people through Generate that I’d never normally come into contact with and can genuinely say they are some of the most interesting people I’ve met.

My time with Generate developed as well. Having initially attended for support, I stayed for the social aspect and the friends and connections I had made in the community through Generate. I met people through Generate that I’d never normally come into contact with and can genuinely say they are some of the most interesting people I’ve met.

I wanted to round this out by admitting my attendance at their groups has been a bit rubbish of  late. For this, I blame Generate entirely. Generate played a huge role in getting me to this point;  I even became a volunteer and joined the steering group, and my confidence and skillset got a much-needed boost.

Now I have a full-time job which I love, two rescue dogs to look after, a  house to keep, a wedding to plan for, friends and family to spend time with, sporting events to  train for, and all the other random things that come with a thriving life.

E (He/Him)

I came out as trans male at the age of 12 and found myself in a rather bleak situation. I was lucky enough to be able to access support from GIDs and Mermaids and attend various trans youth support groups and mental health services.

But still the combination of crushing gender dysphoria and the demonisation of trans youth (in media and everyday life) left me frightened and depressed often to the point of agoraphobia, self-harm and into my later-teen years, various forms of substance abuse.

…and through finding Generate my mental health and coping mechanisms have vastly improved.

In recent years with necessary medical attention and through finding Generate my mental health and coping mechanisms have vastly improved. Generate offered me a safe and controlled environment to be able to talk to trans adults of all ages, discuss hardships, and living life as a trans person, to people who have similar experiences; and can offer moral support, advice, and genuine, non-patronising empathy.

A – age 19. (He/Him)