'I've had names and objects thrown at me' The transgender woman bringing the community together

A trans rights activist has spoken to ITV Wales about her experience of discrimination while on a journey of becoming her true authentic self.

Kate Hutchinson came out to her friends as trans over 10 years ago but after being attacked verbally and physically for being trans, she de-transitioned.

Over the years she saw the acceptance of trans people in society grow and she came out again as she felt safer, transitioning into her true self again at a later stage in her life.

As a co-founder of Welsh Trans Alliance Kate also gives up most of her spare time to volunteer at numerous LGBTQ+ charities to support the trans community in Wales.

"I do what I do, and I became an activist not out of choice but more out of necessity."

"I started to experience hate crime, bullying, I've had names thrown at me, I've had objects thrown at me."

"People have shouted all sorts of things at me just for being who I am, walking down the road," she said.

When Kate first came out in the 1990's she said society felt "very hostile".

"I went back into the closet because I didn't feel safe and then eventually I came out again, but I still experience verbal abuse walking down the street."

Kate says there is still a long way to go for trans people to feel "fully accepted in society".

"25% of homeless people identify as LGBT+, and so I wanted to do something to bring the community together and feel connected."

"I grew up in the 1980s and I got heavily bullied in school and I realised if this is never going to happen again to anyone, then I need to stand up for our rights.

"We all have a difference of one kind or another be that our race our age, a disability.

"No one should be bullied for the difference they have."

Living her true identity while channelling her passions into the trans community, Kate says transitioning was 'one of the best decisions of her life.'

"It would be great if we didn't have to do things like this. Generally, a lot of people don't want to even do interviews or be shoved into the public light but a lot of trans people feel like they have to, in order to see change."

On the 20th of November, 50 people gathered at the Senedd steps in Cardiff to remember the trans lives lost worldwide.

As the Trans Officer at Pride Cymru, Kate hosted the event in Cardiff to rally fellow allies in the community and share thoughts and feelings in a safe space.

"We try and do this event every year but I thought I'm going to end up with three people and their dog. But to see this turnout today was incredible. I was emotional when I saw the number of people."

"It shows me that there are people who understand trans people are just human beings and we deserve the same rights as everyone else."