So, yesterday I came out to my sister. No biggie. ?#transpic.twitter.com/lZGZK55dXE

— Aoife Martin (@aoifemrtn) May 31, 2016

" I've been trans for as long as I can remember - long before I even knew the word existed. My earliest memory is, at probably around 4 years of age, trying on a skirt and knowing that somehow it felt right. I also realised early enough that it was not the done thing. This was '70s Ireland so it was not something that was understood or accepted. I learned very early on to hide it. So I grew up feeling guilty and ashamed and determined to fit in. I was always attracted to girls so the fact that I wasn't gay made me think (hope) that this was something I would be able to overcome. Fast forward a few years. I got married, settled down and had kids. I did tell my wife before we were married as I didn't think it would be fair going into a marriage without being honest. So, for the length of my marriage I was able to compartmentalise my gender identity and put it to one side. Then, a few years ago my wife and I separated and my gender identity suddenly became important. I was on Twitter at the time and came out to a some close friends there. They were so accepting and lovely and when I met them in real life they accepted me for who I was. Then last year, just after Christmas I came out to all my followers on Twitter. I started seeing a counsellor and I came out to my GP. All of these little steps were a culmination to coming out to my sister yesterday. I could not have hoped for a better response. I'm still not fully out to everyone in my family but I'm just taking it one step at a time."