A Lancashire councillor says that they finally feel like they can be themselves after changing their name as part of the process of transitioning to non-binary status.

Cllr Phoenix Adair – previously known as Daniel Gregg – unveiled their new moniker after revealing earlier this year that they would no longer be identifying solely as male.

The 32-year-old Liberal Democrat, who represents the Greyfriars ward on Preston City Council, has changed their name legally by deed poll and has chosen to be referred to by the pronouns ‘they’ and ‘their’.

For Cllr Adair, their new name is the culmination of a search for an identity that they felt was the perfect fit for them – and the best way of reflecting it to the wider world.

“I have been doing a lot of research into gender identity and discovered many different labels.  I finally found one that was right for me – demiguy,” Cllr Adair explained.

“Basically, that means I identify as male up to a point, but the rest of me is genderless.

“I chose Phoenix because it stands for new life – and things in my life are changing at the moment.

“I wanted my name to reflect my non-binary status – if someone sees ‘Daniel’, they make judgements.

“It will take everyone a while to get used to it and I’m sure people will dead-name me [call somebody by their former name] for a while.”

Cllr Adair says that their real-world experience of transitioning has been largely positive, with support coming from Lib Dem colleagues and also council leader Matthew Brown and cabinet member for social justice Nweeda Khan.

However, they have encountered open hostility over their decision online – a response which they use to counter to any suggestion that changing gender is ever something that would be done on a whim.

“It took a lot of thinking about.  I don’t think anybody would choose to be ‘different’ because a lot of trans people face prejudice in their everyday lives,” said Cllr Adair, who also describes themselves as “androsexual”, with a sexual preference towards “males or the masculine”.

Although, they have been presently surprised at how simple it has been to change the name with which they are registered in most organisations – including the addition of the non-binary title “Mx” [pronounced “mix”] – they are disappointed that the government would not legally recognise their move to self-identify as non-binary.

“To them, I’d still be a man.”

That stark fact has been one the main motivations behind Cllr Adair’s decision to turn his attention to advocating for transgender and non-binary rights.

It comes in the wake of a government decision last week not to press ahead with plans put forward under Theresa May’s administration to allow people transitioning from one binary gender to another – male to female or vice versa – to self-identify.

Instead, they will continue to require a gender recognition certificate – the cost of which will be cut from its current level of £140 to a “nominal amount” – and a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.   Equalities minister Liz Truss said that the issue of recognition was “not the top priority for transgender people”, as she announced plans for three new gender clinics in order to cut lengthy waiting lists for those wanting to transition.

However, Cllr Adair called on the government to ditch the “dehumanising” requirements.

“You have got to get two psychiatrists to make that diagnosis – it’s like having to be diagnosed with a mental illness in order to change gender.”

They will also be focusing their efforts on improving life for council staff or service users who have transitioned or are considering it – calling on town hall bosses to identify genderless toilets, to ensure all employees undergo trans awareness training and to commit the authority to marking transgender awareness week.

“I’d also like to see preferred pronouns added to staff name badges.   You can easily mis-gender people – just by looks, people assume gender.”

Lewis Turner, chief executive of Lancashire LGBT, said that having people in the public eye willing to talk candidly about transitioning can only be of comfort and support to those who may be wrestling with the life-changing decision in private.

“There are a growing number of people coming out as non-binary, but there is a spectrum of definitions – and so the more people speak about it, the more it will be accepted and understood.

“It’s similar to the way people have started adding their preferred pronouns to emails and social media profiles – it’s to set a standard and encourage people not to make assumptions,” Mr. Lewis explained.

Meanwhile, Cllr Adair is preparing to settle into an identity with which he finally feels at ease – and is looking forward to the benefits he hopes that contentment will bring.

“I hope I’ll feel more comfortable and confident – as I’m not the most confident person in the world.

“This is something that has been at the back of my mind for a while, but I’ve not been able to put a name to the way I feel.

“I now know who I am and that’s why I have changed my name – to reflect who I am.”

COUNCIL “SUPPORTIVE” OF MEMBER’S GENDER CHANGE

A spokesperson for Preston City Council said that “both councillors and officers have been supportive of Cllr Adair throughout this process”.

They added:  “We can confirm that the ward councillor for Greyfriars, formerly known as Cllr Daniel Gregg, has legally changed their name by Deed Poll to Cllr Phoenix Adair and will now use the email address cllr.p.adair@preston.gov.uk.

“Furthermore Cllr Adair respectfully requests to be addressed by the pronouns ‘they’, ‘them’, ‘their’.