Ladies and Gentlemen! Lucy Diamond...

It’s raining. Lots. It must be the rainy season.

Well never mind the weather, what about my gig?! I did it, my first public performance as Lucy, and it all went rather well. The band have done a few weddings since they reformed last year but virtually the whole set this time was new to all of us, so we were all a bit nervy to start with. But despite very little rehearsal time for the amount of material we’ve learnt, everything went without any major hitches, and not many minor ones either, so we all soon settled down. I really enjoyed it, especially the second set which is generally a bit more up-tempo, and it’s easier to get into things once you’ve relaxed a bit. The audience reaction was great too, it’s only a small place but there were sufficient people there, and several people boogie-ing away, and we did 3 encores, so they must have liked it.

I think all the band were pleased with how it went, everyone knows there is room for improvement, but the day you say you can’t improve is the day you probably ought to give up, and we’ve only just started. The main thing is we enjoyed it, I know I did, on several levels.

I must thank Pip for being my own personal roadie for the night, you worked really hard, babe, carrying all my gear and helping me set up and pack down, I’m so grateful and it really helped the first night go smoothly and easily for me. I’m so glad you were there. My mum also made it, and Stephie and Gillian – 2 of my t-girl friends, and a couple of other friends too. From all of them, and several strangers as well, I got lots of compliments.

For me it was a personal milestone, my first day at work, my already public transition becoming hugely more so. And also a return to the stage after a three and a half year absence, but I barely gave that a thought really. What matters is that Lucy is out and doing what she does best. I’m happy to be showing people that I have nothing to hide, and that my birth defect is not going to stop me from living my life, and nor should it for anyone. I don’t often say this, but I’m quite proud of myself.

Some people out there think that being transsexual means wanting to change into a different person, it doesn’t, it’s about being yourself. It’s not an illness, there’s nothing wrong with us on the inside, it’s the outside bits that need changing, which is why I call it a birth defect, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of; it can’t be helped.

So my message to the world when I’m standing on the stage is, do what you do, be yourself, and don’t feel you have to hide.

This is what I do, this is me, and here I am.

xx