THANKS to a supermarket’s LGBT network and transgender policy, one Malmesbury worker feels confident enough to be herself at work.

Lana Smith, 45, who is transgender, and works at the Co-operative in Gloucester Road, is able to be herself at work after getting in touch with Respect, the Co-op’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender network.

Miss Smith realised she was different when she was about 10, but it wasn’t until recently she felt comfortable and confident being a woman while at work.

“I got in touch a few years ago when society’s attitudes were starting to change and I needed a bit more support,” she explained.

“The way society used to be, it didn’t seem like I could actually be myself, which was upsetting. Then I thought, people can either like you or loathe you for whatever reason.

“It was difficult when I first started to be myself at work, but I had a lot of encouragement.”

At first Miss Smith began to express her female identity by wearing a bit of make-up at work, then, after getting in touch with Respect, over a period of time asked to wear the female uniform, use the female facilities, and change her name.

She said: “It was a very gradual change. It got to the point where I thought, I can’t do this any longer, I had to be me.

“Respect really did help because not dressing as woman feels wrong, it feels wrong to be going to the male cloakrooms.

“It is nice to know if anything was an issue I could fall back on the policies and get support.”

Diversity and inclusion manager at the Co-op, Paul Smith, said: “We believe it’s not just what we do but it’s how we do it and that is why we encourage all our colleagues at the Co-op to be themselves always.

“We are delighted that Lana’s story was shared. We have a very active and encouraging LGBT network at the Co-op, as well as a transgender policy and training for managers which supports staff like Lana to be themselves.”