Transsexual's fight for a visa
A TRANSSEXUAL woman married to a Derby man could face 20 years in jail if she is forced to return to her home country after being turned down for a visa.
Fatine Young, 36, who was born a man, has lived with her husband, school caretaker Ian Young, in Spondon for six months.
Ian first met her in a coffee shop in Malaysia and did not realise she was transsexual.
But despite Fatine's revelation and her refusal to have sex-change surgery, Ian says he is still in love and "can't contemplate his life without her''.
But Fatine has been refused a UK visa and faces jail if she is sent home because their relationship would be perceived to be homosexual. Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia.
The couple were married at a civil ceremony at Derby Register Office in June after a three-year romance.
Despite that, Fatine has been refused permission to stay in the UK by the Home Office.
Ian, 30, who works at St Chad's Infant School, said: "I know it is hard for many people to understand, but I love Fatine and I feel lucky to have met such a caring, wonderful person like her.
"It doesn't matter to me that she is a transsexual, it's the person she is inside that I care about and love."
The couple met in Kuala Lumpur in 2006, when Ian was working in the country.
Ian, who was born in Derby and went to Chellaston School, recalled the moment the couple met.
He said: "I was overwhelmed by her striking eyes and exotic features – she was gorgeous. We started talking and I was immediately impressed by how good her English was.
"When she got up to leave I asked for her number and that's when she told me. She said she might not be what I was looking for, and that she was actually a transsexual.
"Naively I just said 'oh' and blushed with embarrassment. But for some reason I wasn't put off. I'd never met a transsexual before and my instinct was that I liked Fatine."
Two days later, Ian and Fatine, who was born Mohammed Fazdil Bin Min Bahari, went to a bar together and at the end of the night they kissed for the first time.
Ian said: "Being a straight man, I did have a few concerns about what had happened and the way I was feeling. But I couldn't ignore how I felt."
When Ian's contract finished five months later, he returned to Derby.
But he and Fatine stayed in contact and he would spend £10 a day on telephone calls.
In December, Ian arranged for Fatine to come over to the UK on a visitor's visa, for what was at first intended to be a holiday, but they soon realised it would be more long-term.
A month into Fatine's visit, Ian proposed and they applied to the Home Office for a certificate to marry in a civil service, which was granted in June.
His family were supportive, with his mum saying on the day of the civil service: "I've got a son and a daughter now."
They hoped it would support Fatine in her bid to secure a permanent settlement visa.
However, their dream of staying in the UK has been thrown into doubt after Fatine's leave to remain visa was refused in September, on the grounds of an incorrect passport photo. Their second application was also rejected because it was received after Fatine's visitor's visa had expired.
She has now been told she must return to Malaysia – although the couple will put in a third application on Monday.
In Malaysia, transsexuals can be sacked from jobs and arrested.
But Fatine said she had always felt she was in the wrong body and, from the age of 17, had dressed as a woman.
Although her father accepted her, Fatine's sexuality caused a permanent rift with her mother.
Nevertheless, Fatine took hormones to feminise her body and voice, although she has no plans for major surgery.
Ian said: "We've followed every procedure and done everything by the book, but we've still been refused.
"Ultimately spending our life together is our dream, just like any other couple in love. We want to do simple things like have a mortgage together, work and be happy.
"At the moment we both feel desperate and that our options are quickly running out. We love each other. Being forced apart is our worst nightmare."
13 Comments
View all
by Caren, firmly on earth
Monday, November 30 2009, 3:52PM
“if they want to be together then I dont see why not...theyre not bothering me, but this story is also at the sun online and tells it a bit differently. Everyone who wants a "leave to remaim" visa has to apply for it from their country of origin and I dont see why these should be any different. In my opinion, they havent been refused a visa just dont want to do it the way everyone else has to.”
by Shakeel, Normanton
Monday, November 30 2009, 12:44PM
“And after 2 days:-
Rams Fan:- You still talk sense.
Jo, ( now Derbys):- You don't”
by Jo, Derbys
Monday, November 30 2009, 10:44AM
“DRFF- excellent comments.”
by Hugo, Derby
Saturday, November 28 2009, 1:43PM
“bet (s)he enjoys a BLT now and again”
by Rams Fan, Oakwood
Saturday, November 28 2009, 1:16PM
“Jo, the only reason this is even in the DET is because it's a transexual involved; do you suppose this is the only case of married/deported happening right now?
The point is exactly as was made yesterday by so many on the funding story; if you dare to speak out than you're a bigot.
My point was, is and shall remain; it's good that the immigration laws are being applied. That's what they're there for. He/she can walk around dressed as whatever he/she wants when he/she is allowed to be here, but until that time, get he/she out of here.
It's not our place to comment on the laws of other countries; I don't particularly like Sharia law in it's extreme forms but that's the prerogative of other countries, to install that or otherwise. Should we accept women who want to wear trousers because they face a stoning back home? Maybe we should open the borders for people that fancy a bit of adultery too.”
by DRFF, Derby
Saturday, November 28 2009, 1:11PM
“If by some chance anyone was still wondering why an organisation called the Equality and Human Rights Commission would award the largest sum of money in this round of allocations to an LGBT, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Trans support organisation in Derby, then just read the comments which exhibit such trans and homophobia and pure hate from some Evening Telegraph readers both yesterday and today. I would not argue if the replies were based purely on the legality of the situation but they are not! Some choose to focus only on the fact that she is a Trans woman. Nowadays we hear so much about how society is now a level playing field regardless of sexual orientation and other status characteristics that can and are used to treat people badly. But some of the comments here are proof enough that we are a very long way from realising equality. On December 10th, 1948 the United Nations revealed to the post WW II, post- Holocaust world a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, sadly it seems that fifty one years on we have not come very far. The first article of the Declaration reads ¿All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood (well some thought it not very important to include women as a separate from men!.¿ And the second, ¿Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.¿ (UDHR, 1948). LGBT people are mothers, fathers, sons daughters, brothers, sisters, grandchildren.. but above all else they are human beings! Respecting the human rights of another is not about agreeing with them or the way they live it is often about just accepting their right to be. We are each bestowed with human rights but these end when they begin to impinge on the rights of others. December 10th 2009 is International Human Rights Day, what will you be doing to make a difference? Suggestion: Instead of using your energy to express hate why don¿t you use it to express something positive, choose a group whose cause you do champion, support and want to make a difference about and use your energy to create change.
DRFF, Celebrating the LGBT community in Derbyshire
Supporting Equality and Human Rights For All”
by Shakeel, Normanton
Saturday, November 28 2009, 1:09PM
“Mr Rams Fan:- You talk sense.
Jo, ( now midlands):- You don't”
by Jo, Midlands
Saturday, November 28 2009, 1:07PM
“And I suppose you are saying that comments like "why don't they both go and live somewhere else
plus we should also put homosexuals in jail for 20 years" isn't transphobic, homophobic and bigoted? Because if you are then you are about as right wing a Attila the Hun. You also seem to be suggesting that everyone that marries a Brit is doing so simply to get into the country, seems unlikely.
If you attack a transsexual then I WILL call you transphobic and bigoted because that's what you'll be. IF on the other hand you simply think that Fatine should return to Malaysia before re-applying then you are not - although you are clearly ignoring the danger she faces in doing so.”
by Rams Fan, Oakwood
Saturday, November 28 2009, 12:31PM
“Where does it say she wants to get out there and work?!!
I wonder if there'd be all this fuss and immediate acceptance if this was a foreign lad marrying a British woman? No, it'd be written off as a visa scam but because it's a transexual, anyone who objects is automatically a homophobic sexist racist bigot.
There's laws to prevent this kind of thing, and they're being applied. Good.”
by trooper, alvo
Saturday, November 28 2009, 12:16PM
“if he is happy and they are not hurting anyone then each to there own...good luck to them.. even makes it better that she wants to get out there and work for a living unlike some that come into the country freeloading!!!!”