The first episode of Channel 4's documentary "My Transsexual Summer" is being shown next week on Tuesday 8th November at 10pm.  It might also be available on Channel4 OD at http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od so you can watch it on the internet.

The series follows seven people who are undertaking a range of gender reassignment procedures as they make the ultimate journey to realise their true identities, Karen, Lewis, Max, Sarah, Fox, Drew and Doona.

Max, 25, has already undergone 'top surgery': a double mastectomy and male chest sculpting. He is hoping to become Britain's first transgender Rabbi.
Former policeman Karen, 52, is preparing for full gender re-assignment surgery.
Drew, 22, is stuck living at home, and desperate to lead a 'normal' life in a world that constantly asks 'Is that a boy or a girl?'
Lewis, 22, is looking to raise money for a double mastectomy and investigating a phalloplasty: penis construction; the surgeries he wants to make him feel fully male.
Fox, 30, has only been transitioning for six months, and struggles daily to overcome his feminine looks.
Donna, 25, is content living between genders, but navigating relationships can be hard.
Sarah, 28, has just begun to live full-time as a woman and is building up the courage to tell her parents that she has changed her life forever.

The decision to change gender can leave many trans people profoundly isolated, and this group of seven is no different. Though some derive enormous strength from family and friends, others can find themselves cut off and many struggle to find work.
Now they are coming together to share advice and support, reflecting a growing on-line community where many hundreds of transgender people have been making contact with one another.

By physically coming together, the group develops genuine friendships and gives themselves the strength to overcome some of the multiple challenges of being trans in day-to-day life.

More information at:-
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-transsexual-summer

Excellent article and I love the way you have announced it on the home page and the link, great.

Thankyou.

Sex change footage of former policeman becoming a woman 'inappropriate' to show on TV

By Graham Smith

Last updated at 1:34 PM on 31st October 2011

• Girls Will Be Boys And Boys Will Be Girls to air on Channel 4 next month

Graphic footage of a former policeman undergoing a sex change operation may be too unpleasant for some television viewers, a watchdog has warned.

Karen Gale, who was once married and has an adult daughter, was filmed having the two-and-a-half hour procedure as part of a documentary to be screened on Channel 4.

The 52-year-old - previously called Keith - wants her life-changing operation to 'inspire' other men who harbour a desire to become a woman.

Graphic footage of Karen Gale - formerly Keith (right) - undergoing a sex change operation will air during an episode of Girls Will Be Boys And Boys Will Be Girls

'It has been a long journey since I began hormone replacement therapy and I hope my story will inspire others,' she told The Sun.

'They are going to show some parts of the operation after the watershed, some will be edited out.'

Girls Will Be Boys And Boys Will Be Girls will follow seven sex change patients aged between 22 and 55 when it begins next month.

Trust the Daily Mail to come up with something graphic about it

There's a two page article about, "Girls Will Be Boys..." with lots of photos in the November issue of Frock Magazine, out in a few days time!

Katie   x

The interview with Drew on this page:-

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-transsexual-summer/articles/interview-drew

was very moving...

A much more balanced news report appeared in todays Daily Telegraph entitled "What's it really like to change gender?"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/wellbeing/8859867/Whats-it-really-like-to-change-gender.html

Wow, I agree, an excellent article. Had me in tears a little bit reading what they've been through so far. Can't wait for the program, though I'm sure I'll be teary eyed again, lol! xx

Three reviews of last night's first episode were available fairly soon after the show and all were quite positive.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/07/my-transsexual-summer-channel-4?newsfeed=true  

http://channelhopping.onthebox.com/2011/11/08/my-transsexual-summer-review-ex-men/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/08/my-transsexual-summer-review_n_1082726.html

One not so endearing review (despite it's subtitle of 'Funny, warm and thought-provoking' she goes on to refere to Drew as 'he' - I have added a comment to the piece suggesting that she reads and digests the information on the Trans Media website.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/nov/08/my-transsexual-summer-review?commentpage=last#end-of-comments

The article pissed me off.

Loved most of the comments on it.

SpecialAgentCoop made some very good points and really impressed me