Tuesday, September 19, 2017

As a Trans Woman, Being Investigated For My Second Job As an Erotic Model Has Felt Like a 17th Century Witch Trial


Image Credit: Jane Williams

On Tuesday September 12th this year, my life turned upside down.  A Fitness to Practice Hearing took place in Ewloe, Flintshire, to determine if my work as an erotic model was unprofessional. It was held by Wales' Education Watchdog. I had previously worked as a Teaching Assistant in a College there. After countless job applications, it had been the only work I could get as a Trans Woman with a Teaching Certificate and a PhD. 

Inevitably, the hearing was attended by journalists from the tabloids. When the story aired the following day, the words 'witch hunt' crop up repeatedly in people’s online comments. Flintshire's last witch hunt took place exactly 360 years ago to the month in 1657.

Some women like myself pose professionally for erotic photographs; this isn't an illegal activity. Some men spend their time looking at them; this isn't illegal either. It was a male colleague who outed me to my employers after finding my photos of me online.  I lost my career and resigned because of my second job.  He appears to have kept his from what I understand.

I didn't attend the hearing. I'm an event caterer, not a teaching assistant. I have a thriving business running a pop-up Barista service at events and festivals; in full swing at this time of year. I had bookings to honour and customers to serve. Nobody would have compensated me for losses had I cancelled them. Despite repeated requests for a delay the professional body failed to acquiesce or to send documents in a format my computer could process. I didn't even have a date or time. My absence of response should have indicated I wouldn't be there.  Nonetheless the hearing went ahead.

Research into the cost of hearings held by this professional body’s predecessor reveals that eight years ago,  an average of £17,400 was spent on each one day hearing.  Mine was a two day hearing. It isn't clear how much it cost but £17,400 is not far off twice what I earned as a Teaching Assistant.

Speaking to me after the event last week, a freelance journalist working for one of the tabloids remarked; 

"It was like a North Korean show trial. They kept us waiting for six hours while they made their decision. The wouldn't even tell us how to spell your name properly." 

It was also clear talking to other journalists that they themselves felt badly treated. They remarked on the 'one sided' nature of the hearing and of me 'being treated unfairly’.

I have made no secret that transphobic treatment at work meant I would never return to the field of education.  Education, particularly in Wales, can be extremely narrow minded.  You can withstand these things for so long.  I endured it for 10 years as a single Mum bringing up a family.  I hate taking handouts and I needed a job; it provided a means to survive, no more. When I quit in Spring 2016, I moved back to Northern England for good. It makes me wonder why, 18 months later, an organisation from a neighbouring country still seeks to ban me from a job I don’t want and in such a costly manner.  It seems bizarre, pointless, and an shameful waste of public resources.

Being Trans is tough enough.  You learn to cope and adjust to the public intolerance but when you do something others disapprove of, the term 'transgender' is pinned to you like a pink triangle.  I was described variously in the national press as a 'Transgender Porn Star' and 'Transgender Teaching Assistant'. Quite how the prefix 'transgender' is supposed to help the public understanding, I'm not quite sure. I'm a heterosexual woman, I did straight porn that appears, shrink wrapped on the top shelf of almost every corner newsagent in the UK. Surely my being Trans was irrelevant. Maybe the addition of ‘transgender’ is intended to make the story seem smuttier and more salacious.

I accepted by resigning that my two jobs were considered to be incompatible.  I did not behave unprofessionally. I never mixed my two roles or discussed one while doing the other.  Yet in the end it was clearly best for me to leave: My employer no longer wanted me, I hated my job and I hated transphobia ridden education.  I moved away gladly from a community which had often shown intolerance. It is my body; my choice; my life. I chose a new life where I could be myself.

My resignation should have been an end to things. Instead, the investigation was raised and been relentlessly pursued ever since.

The press report that the hearing was adjourned indefinitely. You can read about it if you wish in the online editions of the tabloids.  See what you think. My heart sank as I read them.  It is 2017 not 1657. Yet 360 years on, Wales seems to have taken a complete circle back to it's witch hunting past.


Huggs, Jane xx

7 comments:

  1. The way you have been treated throughout this is ridiculous and horrendously unfair Jane. Wales loss is Manchester’s gain though, and while I wish the journey here had been for different reasons I'm glad you it brought you to us. I hope this means this part of your life is now fully over and you never again have to justify who you are to anyone. Power and love to you xxxx

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    1. Thanks Sam, I hope that part of my life is fully over too now. I'm so glad to have found acceptance here own Manchester. Going through it all has made me a stronger woman, more confirmed in my choices and proud of who I am :) xxx

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  2. It's sad when people confuse fantasy with reality. Porn is creating a sexual fantasy.... it doesn't mean that the model/actress jumps into bed with everyone.... quite the opposite in fact!
    There's nothing wrong with doing or looking at legal porn. The fact that you had posed as an erotic model had nothing to do with your job in an adult education college.... it was none of their business waist you did outside college.
    It's also so ironic that the hearing took place during Sexual Health Awareness Week, during which the Family Planning Association (FPA) have been taking about porn,encouraging the nation’s parents and teachers to be more open about porn with teens.
    But isn’t it about time us adults were more open with one another about it too?
    People need to be realistic about porn - it's creating a fantasy and not real life. Posing in front of the camera does not mean that models are 'asking for it!'
    Stop slut shaming those who work in the legal Sex industry - it's just a job!

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    1. Thanks Tina, I couldn't agree more. As women we are still constrained by a patriarchal society that tries to confine our sexuality. What I did outside my job was to portray positive images of a woman's equal role in a loving, passionate, intimate relationship.

      You are right. Porn is a fantasy portrayal just as fiction or tv drama is. It nonetheless gives a chance to portray a positive message about sex. A porn model plays a part for the camera but I believe that role should echo her own sexuality and show her right to enjoy intimacy as an equal, not as an object or a submissive partner. xxx

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  4. It is a shame how people revert to old views which are completely idiotic. Generally, prejudice is quiet. people talk about being open-minded, but that's just on the surface. Your situation was tragic and undeserved, but it does expose some of the wrongs of society. We still have a long way to go. I'm sorry you had to be the brunt of ignorance. Much to your credit, you've turned misfortune into a victory. Thank you for being who you are.

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  5. I saw your story a while back and found your blog in hopes that a very happy ending came to this story. As was said above, I'm glad you've turned this into a victory. Also, and trying to walk the fine line here and not slip into objectification, but you're a beautiful woman with nothing to be ashamed of. I'd have left the photos and video up just to say "screw you, I'm good with who I am."

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