British Army officer: I was ‘living an act’ before coming out as trans

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An officer in the British Army has opened up about being transgender.

Hannah Winterbourne, who serves as a captain of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – is the highest-ranking openly transgender person in the British Armed Forces.

The 27-year-old decided to transition to female while Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

She told All About Trans: “I was selected for the Army at the age of 15.

“I came out as a trans solider about a year and a half ago… and since then I’ve become the highest ranking openly serving trans soldier.

“I think initially it was a bit of a shock to some people, because it’s not something you come across every day in the Army… however, people soon realise that it didn’t make a difference to my job.”

However, she told The Sun that she struggled to cope while serving in Afghanistan, prior to coming out.

She said: “In Afghanistan I was living an act. I was acting for everyone around me. There was no let up where I could not stop that act.

“In my part of the tent there were seven guys living on top of each other. Previously I’d relished my own time where I could be honest with myself.”

Watch the clip via All About Trans below:

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