Page 16 - QARANC Spring 2024

16 The Gazette QARANC Association
‘Helping the
Army become a
safer space to
be yourself’ –
how Major Steph
is championing
transgender
Service Personnel
On 17 October 2023, the inaugural LGBTQ+ Defence Awards were held in London’s Covent Garden. An inspirational and emotional evening, it aimed to empower LGBTQ+ people to feel safe and supported in their workplace and increase the visibility of role models. The Awards were hosted by BBC news anchor Jane Hill with keynote speakers including the likes of double Olympic champion Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Andrew Murrison MP, Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families. But the real stars were the winners themselves. QARANC’s Major Stephanie Hayward was named Armed Forces Leader of Year and gave an interview to Gazette editor Steve Bax.
“A little over a than a year ago, I was someone who didn’t realise that she was part of the LGBTQ+ community,” says Major Stephanie ‘Steph’ Hayward, whose life has been something of a whirlwind since coming out as transgender to her unit in early 2023. That occasion was a gathering of about 60 members of 243 Multi-role Medical Regiment with Steph giving a presentation on diversity and inclusion – an area she has championed within the Army and in her civilian role as a mental health nurse for the NHS in Somerset, most recently as a Freedom to Speak Up (F2SU) Guardian.
“Normally, when I’m giving a presentation, I have a reputation of making people think,” says Steph, who flashed up photos of herself in her various roles, finally as herself. This was followed by a hard-hitting video about changing (or its proper term, affirming) gender, and a full and open discussion ensued with Steph answering questions.
“I have heard about people coming out to their units via a parade; being brought to attention and everyone being informed that ‘X is now to be known as Y’ and dismissed, but training is my niche and if people have questions, I rather they speak about it openly. There were some technical questions, like what happens if you’re in a field medical treatment facility and a patient hasn’t got the bits you’re expecting – which was answered by