Woman says her marriage becomes stronger after husband changes gender

DURHAM: A woman disclosed how her marriage became stronger than ever after her husband told her that he wanted to live as a woman.

According to details, a 48-year old female Fiona Bosanquet in Durham county was shocked when her spouse Stephen told her that he wanted to change his gender and live as Stephanie. She opposed her husband’s wish but decided to let him change his sex.

The couple have been married for 28 years and have four children Abigail, 27, Angela 24, Jack 18, and Amy, 16.

They first met on a blind date in 1987 and tied the knot a year later.

Fiona said that she could see now that Stephanie was so much happier living this way and that made her happy. She added that their marriage is stronger than ever and she was just so happy that they are still a happy family.

She added that she told him that if they wouldn’t remain married anymore if he started living as a female. They didn’t talk on the matter for quite a while and eventually her husband started dealing with depression.

“I reluctantly went to a gender identity clinic in Scotland but I sat in the car and didn’t want to be involved. I can honestly say that if Stephanie had transitioned back then, we wouldn’t still be married,” Fiona said.

Stephanie (previously Stephan) said she knew that she was different at the age of 10 but she kept it to herself.

Stephanie said, ‘I told her I just couldn’t live like this anymore. I was so uncomfortable in my own skin.’

She grew her hair, started shopping in the women’s section and legally changed her name to Stephanie.

The situation changed when the duo met therapist Emma Roebuck. Fiona started to understand who Stephanie really wanted to be.

Fiona said, “There isn’t a lot of help and support out there for partners of transgender people and it is equally as hard on us. There are a lot of feelings of betrayal because you didn’t agree to marry this other person and grief that you are losing the person you fell in love with.”

She added, ‘But now after becoming friends with Emma, I understand that Stephanie is still the same person but is much happier now living true to herself.’

They said that their children found it hard to cope with the situation but are adjusting to it each day.

Fiona asked, ‘Abigail and I went to see Emma alone first and she burst into tears and asked ‘Who is going to walk me down the aisle now.’

Fiona stated that all of the children still call Stephanie their  ‘Dad’ because she was their mother and ‘always will be.’

Fiona has opened a beauty salon named Butterfly Therapies which provides hair electrolysis for transgenders so that they can remove unwanted facial hair at low rates. She hopes to raise enough money for providing free treatments.

She said: “At first, I just didn’t understand it and I didn’t want to know anything about it but now that I understand how Stephanie feels, I couldn’t be happier that I decided to stay. I’m so glad that we didn’t give up on our marriage.”

Stephanie said that Fiona being so accepting and becoming a part of the community means a lot to her.

‘I’m not proud of many things in my life but I am proud of my marriage and my children,’ Stephanie said.

Stephanie has been using prescription estrogen patches for the last six months in order to become more feminine. She said that it works differently on different people.

Stephanie said, ‘It also gives you a more feminine face but again that is depending on how old you are when you start taking it.’

Stephanie said that she was never a fan of masculine hobbies such as playing football but did play rugby in middle school. She admitted that she didn’t really enjoyed it but it was something to pass time.

Stephanie believed that her problems with depression came from something else but that her gender dysphoria aggravated her problem.