Double sex-swap wedding: Man who was a woman is marrying woman who was a man
Their huge smiles now hide the years of torment and incredible changes before they became one of Britain’s most unusual couples
Perfect team: Lovebirds plan to elope
Roland Leon
When Felix Laws and Helen Morfitt gaze into each other’s eyes it’s clear to see that they can’t wait to tie the knot.Their huge smiles hide the years of torment and incredible changes they have been through before they became one of Britain’s most unusual couples.The lovebirds have both had sex changes.Felix, 46, was born a girl called Katy. And Helen, 56, was born a boy called Leslie.At 5ft 8in, Helen towers over 5ft 1in Felix and the couple admit that people sometimes stare at them in the street.But they have never been happier and will elope to Gretna Green in September to get married.Between them they have 10 children and have already racked up four marriages.But this will be the first time either of them gets hitched after changing gender.Helen says: “It might seem a bit strange to people on the outside but as far as we’re concerned we’re just like any other man and woman in love.“We’ve been through a lot over the years and had tough times transitioning from one sex to another, but we’ve now found each other and that’s all that matters.“I’ve been married three times before but this time I know it’s for real because I know I’m the right sex this time.”School teaching assistant Felix says: “We share everything, from house work to decision making.“That said, we tend to take on traditional roles if it’s something we are good at, like DIY and decorating in Helen’s case.“And we’re just like any other couple – including in the bedroom. Neither of us has any complaints on that score.”
Hitched: Helen, when she was Leslie, at wedding to wife number 3
The couple will officially change the sex on their birth certificates so they can marry as husband and wife. The date for the nuptials, September 13, holds special significance because it was the date they had their sex change ops – albeit seven years apart.They met in 2008 after Felix – who was then a woman – confessed to his doctor that he was trapped in the wrong body.The GP sent Felix to see a psychologist who put him in touch with Helen because she ran a transgender support group.Felix says: “I’d known from the age of eight that I should have been born a boy."My friends were playing with dolls and prams but I wanted to climb trees, play football and get muddy.“Even sitting down to go to the toilet felt wrong. But it was the 1970s and you didn’t have those kind of thoughts back then.“So I tried to behave as if everything was normal and got married aged 21."After I exchanged vows with my husband and went up to our room I knew I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.”As Katy, Felix went on to have two sons with her husband.Felix says: “Just because I was transgender didn’t mean I didn’t want what everyone else had – a loving family.“When I held my children in my arms for the first time I felt like any other mother would about their baby.”Felix settled down to family life but after 13 years of living a lie he could take no more. He walked out – leaving his sons, then aged 10 and 12, behind.He says: “I didn’t have a choice. The urge to become a man was growing stronger."My husband was given custody of the children and it broke my heart but I couldn’t keep playing happy families.“The stress had made me anxious all the time and I lost three stone in weight.”
Their huge smiles now hide the years of torment and incredible changes before they became one of Britain’s most unusual couples
Perfect team: Lovebirds plan to elope
Roland Leon
When Felix Laws and Helen Morfitt gaze into each other’s eyes it’s clear to see that they can’t wait to tie the knot.Their huge smiles hide the years of torment and incredible changes they have been through before they became one of Britain’s most unusual couples.The lovebirds have both had sex changes.Felix, 46, was born a girl called Katy. And Helen, 56, was born a boy called Leslie.At 5ft 8in, Helen towers over 5ft 1in Felix and the couple admit that people sometimes stare at them in the street.But they have never been happier and will elope to Gretna Green in September to get married.Between them they have 10 children and have already racked up four marriages.But this will be the first time either of them gets hitched after changing gender.Helen says: “It might seem a bit strange to people on the outside but as far as we’re concerned we’re just like any other man and woman in love.“We’ve been through a lot over the years and had tough times transitioning from one sex to another, but we’ve now found each other and that’s all that matters.“I’ve been married three times before but this time I know it’s for real because I know I’m the right sex this time.”School teaching assistant Felix says: “We share everything, from house work to decision making.“That said, we tend to take on traditional roles if it’s something we are good at, like DIY and decorating in Helen’s case.“And we’re just like any other couple – including in the bedroom. Neither of us has any complaints on that score.”
Hitched: Helen, when she was Leslie, at wedding to wife number 3
The couple will officially change the sex on their birth certificates so they can marry as husband and wife. The date for the nuptials, September 13, holds special significance because it was the date they had their sex change ops – albeit seven years apart.They met in 2008 after Felix – who was then a woman – confessed to his doctor that he was trapped in the wrong body.The GP sent Felix to see a psychologist who put him in touch with Helen because she ran a transgender support group.Felix says: “I’d known from the age of eight that I should have been born a boy."My friends were playing with dolls and prams but I wanted to climb trees, play football and get muddy.“Even sitting down to go to the toilet felt wrong. But it was the 1970s and you didn’t have those kind of thoughts back then.“So I tried to behave as if everything was normal and got married aged 21."After I exchanged vows with my husband and went up to our room I knew I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.”As Katy, Felix went on to have two sons with her husband.Felix says: “Just because I was transgender didn’t mean I didn’t want what everyone else had – a loving family.“When I held my children in my arms for the first time I felt like any other mother would about their baby.”Felix settled down to family life but after 13 years of living a lie he could take no more. He walked out – leaving his sons, then aged 10 and 12, behind.He says: “I didn’t have a choice. The urge to become a man was growing stronger."My husband was given custody of the children and it broke my heart but I couldn’t keep playing happy families.“The stress had made me anxious all the time and I lost three stone in weight.”