Oral history of Steph Tonner interviewed by Jaime Valentine: file 2b, 2004
Scope and Contents
00:00 About how S defines self for bureaucratic purposes as male where given binary choice: including ‘other’ is step in right direction. S would like birth certificate and passport to reflect intersex gender. Mentions Alex MacFarlane, Australian who has succeeded in doing this. Describes positive aspects of having KS. Can understand both genders because is both. Believes in openness and honesty between partners.
04:35 About S’s present disabilities, describes when first began to collapse, diagnosed with arthritis and peripheral neuropathy [damage to nerve endings], not certain if related to KS. Explains how began to use crutches, then manual wheelchair, now electric wheelchair. Reasons why S hasn’t joined disability groups.
11:11 About disappointing response from LGBT community to S being intersex and disabled. Only LGBT Centre has wheelchair accessibility. Doesn’t feel recognised at
LGBT Centre for all the groundwork S did for creation of the Centre. Volunteered at Centre, but volunteers not respected for hard work they do. Centre seems currently unwelcoming and unlikely to survive. Centre relies on the café. Vision was initially for a vibrant community centre.
15:48 Support for S in the future: hopes for support from friends plus paid assistants. S has seven different home-helps at present, explains shortcomings. S is open about sexuality: one home-help complained, but social worker said this was sexual discrimination. Dreams of retiring to Malaga, Spain. S has hopes and dreams rather than fears: doesn’t allow self to feel fearful about future. S makes life content: hard work but worth it.
Dates
- Creation: 2004
Creator
- Tonner, Steph (interviewee of OurStory Scotland ) (Interviewee, Person)
- Valentine, Jaime (LGBTQ+ activist) (Interviewer, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
28498.755 Megabytes
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
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