Two women who support the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) community in Brighton and Hove have been included in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Alice Purnell, 68, from Hove, was made an OBE. The psychologist, counsellor and author was honoured for services to transgender people.
She worked as a geriatric nurse for many years until her retirement eight years ago and has helped set up numerous support groups for transgender people.
She organised conferences and training for professionals and those involved in the care of transpeople.
She said of her honour: “It took me by surprise. I’ve done the work because it needed to be done. It’s nice to get a pat on the back.”
Alice has written several books including Transexed and Transgendered People a Guide and edited Trans in the 21st Century. She is also a published poet.
She said: “We’ve set up various bodies for the children and parents and I help link professionals in the field.
“There’s a lot of confusion between gender and sexuality.
“All sorts of help is now available for people which wasn’t available 40 years ago.”
She said that she had worked as a volunteer for the Samaritans in the 1960s and handled many calls about gender problems.
In the past the police, she said, had even sometimes beat up gay or trans people.
“I had to deal with a little boy who had hung himself in his sister’s clothes.
“Even as recently as last week I was dealing with someone who was suicidal.
“There are still horrible things going on. Trans people are bullied. There are still hate crimes.”
She said that the attitude of the police had improved greatly but added: “Things have moved on but there are still large areas where work is needed.
“There’s a tremendous amount of ignorance around too. Transphobia and homophobia still exist.”
