Two 20-year-old siblings are now
reforging their bond and he is
supporting Jamie who hopes to
have a full sex-swap operation on
the NHS next year.
For the first time ever, Adam Eagle
poses for a happy family
photograph with his pretty twin,
Jamie.
It has never happened before
because, until six months ago,
Adam refused to accept that his
brother was actually his sister.
He used to taunt Jamie for being
different and effeminate and –
even after she was diagnosed
transgender – he could not bear
to be near her.
But the 20-year-old siblings are
now reforging their bond and he is
supporting Jamie who hopes to
have a full sex-swap operation on
the NHS next year.
She is taking female hormones in
preparation.
Adam said: “Since taking
hormones Jamie has blossomed
into a beautiful woman – much
prettier than some girls I know.
"I finally accept my brother is now
my sister and I’m ashamed about
my past behaviour.”
The non-identical twins were
close growing up in Bridgend,
South Wales, with mum Bev, now
58, dad Phil, 51, and sisters Clare,
38, and Michelle, 32.
But problems started when they
were about six and Jamie started
wearing her sisters’ school skirts
in secret.
Jamie said: “I knew it wasn’t
normal but it felt right.”
Astrophysics university student
Adam said: “Pictures of us as kids
show us in matching outfits,
cropped hair and we’re either
climbing rocks or going on lads’
rides at the funfair.
"But Jamie was never happy
posing for them. School bullies
used to call Jamie gay – he was
very feminine.
“I didn’t understand why he
wanted to play with Barbies when
I played with Action Man so I
often joined in a teased him too.
“It was easier to side with the
bullies than it was to stick up for
Jamie – I didn’t understand his
behaviour, his mannerisms were
feminine and he had a soft, girlie
voice. I assumed he was gay.”
When Jamie reached 12 she
started fancying straight boys and
everyone thought she was
homosexual.
She said: “I knew I wasn’t but
didn’t know what was different
about me.
“My body made me feel really
uncomfortable. I hated my body
hair, voice and genitalia.”
Two years later Jamie started
secretly shaving her legs and
using her mum’s make-up. But it
was another two years before she
told a sister she was transgender.
She said: “I was desperate, I
wanted to cut my genitals off. I
burst into tears one night and
blurted to Michelle: ‘I want to be a
girl.’
“She hugged me and said she’d
always known I was different. She
told mum who said she loved me
no matter what.”
Jamie’s dad came to terms with
the shock news but Adam did not.
Jamie said: “He shouted at me
‘You’re a boy.’ He said I should
stop acting like a girl and was
convinced I was going through a
phase that I’d grow out of.
"It was very upsetting.”
Adam said: “It was a huge
bombshell. I’d heard about
transgender people but never
thought my own twin could be
one.
“I found it hard because as twins
we’re meant to be so similar. I
couldn’t bear to be in the same
room as him. I thought he looked
stupid in a dress.”
On a 2009 family holiday in
Portugal, Jamie started wearing
hairbands and girlie jewellery,
much to Adam’s embarrassment.
He said: “I told him if he was
going to wear girls’ stuff I
wouldn’t hang around with him –
he’d get upset and cry but it just
made me cringe.”
Jamie, now studying a counselling
course at Bridgend College, was
given the confidence to begin
living full-time as a girl after
being diagnosed as transgender
by a psychiatrist and a specialist
in May 2010.
She said: “I went shopping with
my sisters to get dresses and hair
extensions and told everyone to
refer to me as a girl.”
But constant rows with Adam, who
felt as if he was grieving for his
brother, led to Jamie moving out
of their home.
Adam said: “I’d lost my brother. I
felt alone. I had arguments with
my mum because I was
unsupportive. But it took a long
time to sink in.”
Jamie said: “Adam’s nasty
comments have been really
painful in the past, but I realise
my transition has been hard for
him too.
"Recently we went to the pub
together and he was pleased to be
seen with me, which was great.”
In March Jamie began taking
female hormones and said: “The
hormones have been fantastic –
they’ve softened my body and
facial hair, given me B-cup
breasts, a curvy bottom and hips,
and shrunk my genitalia.
"I feel so confident.”
Adam said: “I heard from mum
that Jamie was getting grief from
strangers and I realised I should
be supporting her. I told her I
deeply regretted the way I’d
treated her.
"Sometimes I slip up and refer to
Jamie as a he – but then she was
my brother for 16 years. But I’m
getting used to it.
“I’m so proud of her. "Now, posing for photographs
with her long blonde hair and
make-up, she’s the real Jamie, the
person she was born to be. I’m
proud to tell people my twin sister
is transgender.
"I explain what she’s been
through and try to make them
understand – it’s my way of
supporting her. If she wants me to
go to hospital appointments with
her, I will, and if she ever needs to
talk, I’ll always listen.”
He added: “Jamie has really
blossomed. She’s developed a
unique style and my mates have
told me they think she’s pretty.
“Some people think I must be
transgender too and I have
wondered that myself at times
because we’re twins, but I know
I’m a straight guy.
"Jamie is cool and a real
character. I love her just as much
now as I did before she
transitioned.”
Jamie said: “I feel closer to Adam
now. His support means so much.
I’ll always be his twin – I’m just
his twin sister now, not his twin
brother.”
Dad Phil said: “I’m very proud of
her and I think Jamie’s shown
immense courage to express her
true feelings that she was in the
wrong body.
“It takes a lot of guts to come out
and say that. The way she has
faced up to the persecution and
bullying
just shows she’s a stronger
person than I ever could have
been,” he added.
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