A COURAGEOUS man who was born a girl has thanked the people of Worcester for backing him.

Bobby Fransis Barnes, of Diglis, Worcester, was flooded with messages of support after a story appeared in the Worcester News about his battle against the ‘haters’ and his bid for gender-reassignment surgery.

And the 19-year-old barber, who is hoping to have female-to-male chest reconstruction and sex-reassignment surgery on the NHS as soon as possible, was grateful for support from his home city.

"Worcester backs me man, that means a lot,” he said.

“Thank you to my mum first, to Donna (his partner) and to Gail Braznell (his friend), without who none of this would have been possible, and to all my friends and those who have supported me.”

We reported yesterday how Mr Barnes appeared on This Morning to talk about his life, telling presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby he had always known inside he was a boy and used to cut off his hair and tear off his dresses when he was younger.

He also spoke about his battle against the bullies and his desire to give hope to other young people going through the same thing.

And Worcester News readers took to the internet to respond.

Liz Ashton Colin wrote on facebook: “The sooner people can be treated, the sooner they can get back to a normal life, working, paying their taxes and raising their kids. Just like everyone else. If you want to look at this from the purely financial then appropriate treatment on the NHS is the most cost effective option. Do you know how many trans people kill themself or try to kill themselves because their bodies feel so wrong and alien to them?”

Gail Braznell wrote: “Very very proud of you Bobby Barnes mostly great comments and massive support.”

Karen Lock wrote: “It's all about what makes u happy today, and as 4 the negative options. You never know what your own children will grow up to be. Happy for you both and congratulations on speaking out takes guts.”
katiekins wrote on the Worcester News website: “Good for you. But I think the NHS have better things to spend money on.”

knick-knack said: “The mental turmoil must be horrendous. This decision is not a passing ‘fancy’, it’s all about life itself. Living in the wrong body must be a living nightmare.”

TDH123 said: “I’m in the wrong body too, I should be in one far more toned than it is - I do not expect the state to pay for it.”

pinkfluff said in response to those who had said the NHS had better things to spend its money on: “It’s IMPORTANT to Bobby. I’m happy for my NHS contributions to pay for something so IMPORTANT.”