A TRANSSEXUAL from Redditch is championing the rights of other gender-swapping people from across the region.

Yvonne Rhodes, 52, of Crabbs Cross, is now the West Midlands regional contact representative for the Gender Trust.

She first appeared in the Advertiser in January when she was fighting for her right to attend women-only sessions at Redditch Council leisure facilities.

Yvonne, who has been with partner Sue Edge for more than 20 years, will be having her sex change operation in Thailand in June and, in 2008, will receive her Gender Recognition Certificate and be legally able to change the details on her birth certificate.

She is already defined as a woman on doctors' records.

She said: "Through my work with the Gender Trust, I want to help educate people about Gender Dysphoria (GD) otherwise known as Gender Identity Disorder (GID) or transsexualism.

"The Gender Trust is a registered charity which offers a wide range of services to people and organisations, many of which are free.

"The idea is that we spread the word and help educate people to the fact that the condition is a medically recognised one, not a fetishistic pastime."

The Gender Trust is the only UK charity specifically set up to support the need of transsexuals, their families and friends. It also helps businesses and organisations deal sympathetically with people going through the transition at work, assisting them to meet their legal obligations.

For more information, visit www.gendertrust.org.uk or email Yvonne through the website at region061@gendertrust.org.uk