Transgender teenager says life is amazing now that he can be himself

Since he decided to share his story, Leo Waddell has become something of a celebrity in the Trans community. His appearances on national TV shows like ITV’s This Morning have helped his schoolmates, teachers, neighbours and even strangers in the street to understand who he is and why he felt he had to speak out.

Leo, was born female, but even before he started school he felt that he was a boy. Now 14-years-old he has been living as a boy for five years. His family was incredibly supportive of his need to be accepted as male, but he had to fight for his gender to be acknowledged at school.

Leo’s mother, Hayley, was accused of forcing him to be a boy, because her older children were girls. When concerns were reported to social services, she says, she finally started to get the help that Leo needed. Eventually he was referred to the Tavistock and Portman clinic in London where he was diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Leo and Hayley had to fight for him to be given hormone blockers to delay the onset of puberty. This will make transitioning easier if he decides to have surgery when he is an adult.

At Trans Pride in Brighton, he introduced me to his friend Tyler who realised he was Trans when he saw Leo’s story.

Click below to hear from Leo’s friend Tyler.

Leo is about to start testosterone treatment and is waiting for an appointment to have his eggs frozen so that he may be able to have children one day. He believes he would have committed suicide if he hadn’t been accepted as male. But now that he can be himself, he says life is amazing.

Click below to watch the full report from ITV Anglia’s Clare McGlasson.