TWO years after a transsexual mechanic was shunned by her customers for revealing ‘he’ was actually a ‘she’, Teraina Hird has now become a published author telling of her ordeal in order to help others overcome prejudice.
Teraina, of Sundon Park, Luton, has just published a 226-page book called ‘Unashamedly Me – the story of a transsexual woman’s struggle to become herself’.
Teraina tells how as a child she realised she had been born in a man’s body and then goes on to described her tormented teenage years not really knowing what was wrong and questioning whether she was just gay?
She says in her book: “Physically I was a male, as for my brain that was a different matter altogether. There was little recognition in the 1960s for Gender Dysphoria.”
The book touches on her 33-years of marriage and the 50 years of denial until 2007 when the need to be her true self resurfaced. When Teraina’s wife died in 2008, in her own words “it gave her the freedom to rediscover and explore her true self”.
The book then portrays how in 2010, Teraina underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand to complete her journey into womanhood and the trials, tribulations and again, prejudice encountered along the way.
But 18 months down the line she told the News that she now feels complete as a person and comfortable in her own skin.
She sold her garage business Terry Hird Engines, in Leighton Buzzard, and now lives in Luton with her partner Anna.
Teraina’s book also features our sister paper the Leighton Buzzard Observer and its “Driven out by bigots” headline and her praise for reporter Sarah Holmes in handling the story.
It also mentioned a national newspaper’s headline of “Mechanic loses nuts and customers bolt” – and the misery it caused to her and her son, who was at university at the time.
After her son Chris’s initial shock of his ‘dad’s’ unveiling, he has helped Teraina design the book cover.
Her openness has also resulted in TV appearances, one being on ITV’s This Morning show, and numerous radio interviews.
Teraina has also delivered lectures and talks on transgender.
She said: “I have learned by my past, it has made me who I am, my only regret is I did not find myself sooner.”
Her book is dedicated to her new partner and Chris.
Teraina’s book is available as an e-book or can be bought on Amazon, or directly fromm www.fast-print.net/bookshop