Just watched Cutting Edge featuring Jan and I wanted to say how much I enjoyed this great documentary. I also wanted to wish Jan all the best for the future and I genuinely hope she find's the love and happiness she so deserves. Note to Jan's parents - You should be very very proud to have such a beautiful, sensitive and brave daughter. Please show the family love and support she needs.
Go for it Jan I'd loved to of had you as my big sister. XXX
To Jan and all who travel the same path: you are far from alone. If you need to talk there are a number of organisations that can help.
Inner Enigma is a charity based in Manchester that supports transsexual and Intersexed individuals and those who are seriously questioning their gender identity. www.innerenigma.org.uk
More than 300 individuals have found support through the group.
Support includes drop in sessions on 3rd Tuesday of each month as well as face to face counselling.
Just wanted to say that I thought this was a really moving documentary. After 42 years of having to pretend to be something she wasn't, Jan deserves some comfort and love; not universal rejection by people who should be rocks in her life.
I'm glad that Jan feels proud of her abiility to "see it through" and I truly hope that she has a more fulfilled lfe as a woman and achieves all the added extras that go with a fulfilled life. Hang on in there, Jan!
A message to all the small-minded bigots that have posted disgustingly shallow comments about Jan all over the internet - keep your opinions to yourself!
This is my first time on a forum. I have joined especially to send my good wishes to you, Jan.
I was very moved by your story. You are a truly remarkable person and can, indeed, feel proud of yourself. I feel humbled by your two remarkable lives: one as a soldier; the other becoming the woman you are.
I wish you well and hope that you can find a way of living with the hurt that your parents have caused you. You have done nothing more than want to be true to yourself and I admire you for having the courage to see it through.
This is the first time I have been on this forum and joined especially to give Jan support. I am a gay lady and found it hard to come to terms with that and had full support of everyone around me when I did. To go through what you did Jan is unbeleivable- you are a true inspiration to anybody who is facing a dufficult time in their life. I was so annooyed with your parents and could not beleive that you were alone in Thailand - I would have been honoured to be there with you - your parents are missing out on having such a wonderful daughter in their life. Your life as a man was also so comendable - I am sure you will contribute more to this world than all the biggots put together who do not undertsnand - or choose to plead ignorance.
You are a true miracle of life and I so hope that you find your happiness and let the right people into your life.
Good luck for the future - I hope you are reading all these messages of support and admiration.
I too have logged in this forum simply to send a message to Jan. Sex change soldier was a very moving documentary and to go through what you have done takes real strength of character and determination. My husband and I had tears in our eyes watching your story and we both wish you well for your future and hope that true happiness comes your way. We hope that you find some real friends who are willing to accept you for who you are as you deserve to be treated with respect. Here's to life becoming fun again!!
Hiya I just wanted to say I switched on last thursday not knowing what to expect ignorant of me I know.I tend to watch Vacuous airhead programmes on satellite SORRY,also I was scared there might be gruesome bits,thankfully there wasn't. I haven't been gripped by a programme in a long time. Jan is an amazing lady, I cried and cried and wanted to give her a hug as she talked about her parents dismissal of her,noone deserves that kind of treatment. Some people don't deserve children they had a wonderful brave man for a son and now they have an even braver gorgeous woman for a daughter. I would be showing her off at the golf club if I were her parents. Jan you are an amazing & gorgeous real lady (not a good facsimilie) and you remind me a little of Sharleen out of Texas. I want to wish you all the best for your future and I hope you can be truly happy. XXX
i have signed up to this forum for the first time, motivated by Jan's moving story. Jan, you are absolutely amazing and it hurts me to think that so many people must suffer the same pain and torment as you have. I admire your courage and self belief in speaking out and fighting against all odds to be true to yourself. You deserve to be loved for who you are. sometimes people are too frightened of what they cannot understand. stay positive Jan, and i'm sure you'll find true happiness. best wishes, D. x
I watched this programme with interest. I am a body language coach and specialise in successful communication for women, as such I study women in detail. Even before the facial surgery, I was in no doubt watching this programme that Jan was born a woman. Her movements were natural and not laced with the over feminising gestures of a man emulating a woman. The only time I saw Ian, interestingly enough, was just before the final surgery to remove the male genitals. It was almost as if Jan was connecting to this male side one last time.
Her parents must be wonderful people to have produced such a sensitive and amazing human being. Jan’s love for them was apparent and I hope that they come to realize that there child is a special woman of extraordinary courage and self possession. I wish Jan well in her future.
To Jan I would say that in Gina Lollabrigida, Jan has made an excellent choice. My personal goddess is Lauren Bacall, we share great taste. I am adding Jan to my Goddess Circle; this is a collection of women whom I admire and who act as my role models. Jan has encouraged me to have the courage to be my self, she is and excellent role model for all women and I hope that she finds true the happiness that she deserves. I would be glad to have her as a friend.
Just wanted to say that unfortunately due to a SKY+ malfunction I actually missed the show but felt I needed to comment anyway.
I myself have been through the whole gender re-assignment process ( I refuse to call it sex change as I was in no doubt as to my sex or sexuality merely my outer gender did not match my inner gender) and know all too well the prejudice that we face in life. Fortunately I have not had too much bigotry and badness to endure yes some members of family no longer wish to have any association with me but that is their loss not mine. I am also fortunate enough to have some very supportive work colleagues who i also class as very good friends, so much so that on meeting with one friends family she reported back to me saying that her teenage son thinks im supercool. In essence wht i am really saying is that, Jan, remember one very importnat thing and that there are people out there who know how you feel and how hard it is ( we all think we are the only ones to ever go through this life changing process)and that you are one very special lady who has more courage than any of those bigots out there, the one thing none of us can do is change how other people feel and we would be wasting our time trying. Think of this last point Jan if you read these boards, 'for every person who chooses to not accept you for who you are then THEY are missing out on knowing one very nice and very special person'. Good luck Jan and take care.
Thanks for all your comments, both here and to those of you who contacted Channel 4 following the programme. Jan has been so touched by the sentiments that she has penned this response.
This programme received more appreciative comments than any other programme in March. See Cheers & grumbles for details.
PS (24-04-08) Also see the Cutting Edge editor’s blog, as he reflects on the series as a whole and asks for your feedback.
