The FTM network is an informal and Ad hoc self help group, open to all female to male transgender and transsexual people, or those exploring this aspect of their gender. Currently it has over 750 members in Britain and Europe, and contact with F to M groups in America, Belgium, France, Russia, China, Japan and Australia.

To make a donation to the FTM Network please send it to:

• FTM Network, BM Network, London WC1N 3XX

Please make all cheques/postal orders payable to ‘FTM Network’.

Membership costs: We endeavor to ensure that it is always free so that no one need ever be isolated because of their financial circumstances. However, we do ask those who can afford it to donate £10.

By Stephen Whittle, FTM Network Co-ordinator

I transitioned 27 years ago and started living as Stephen, the man I was. Ever since I have been involved with the self help networks for Trans people. Several years ago, I was very concerned to hear of an F to M trans man (now a network member) who had had phalloplastic surgery (to create a penis) with a well known London surgeon. The result was so disappointing that he ended up in a psychiatric hospital for the first time in his life. I discovered that he had never known or met any other trans men before he had gone for this surgery.

It struck me at the time that this was a terrible state of affairs, and should never have happened. One of the ways forward was for as many as possible of us to keep in touch, and to pass information around which would be useful for others, and to make friends who were “like ourselves”. Hence the FTM Network. In that way we would hopefully prevent such tragedies happening again.

To join the FTM Network please complete the form below with your details and press the send button. Alternatively you may print out the form and send it to:

FTM Network, BM Network, London WC1N 3XX.

(0)161 432 1915

Only Wednesday evening between 8pm and 10.30pm, UK time.

Calls to this number are charged at the normal call rates.

This telephone help line is operated entirely by unpaid volunteers, from their own homes. Please respect their privacy, and the fact that on occasions they may be dealing with problems in their own lives. The phone line is not available at other times.

We are unable to return your calls, even if you leave a message on the answer machine, and we cannot afford to accept ‘reverse charge’ phone calls.