In my gender transition I’ve been pretty extremely fortunate. When I first stepped outside wearing a skirt, it was a long flowing almost pleated black thing over long black patent boots (I know, I know..), I was pretty afraid of being shouted at or attacked. OK I was genuinely terrified.

I woke up in the middle of the night last night with all the urgency of a fire alarm. My personal sprinkler system was at considerable risk of going off under the bedcovers and I needed to…