The club’s first equality and diversity officer was known as Steve Cook until 2015 – her transition followed a lifelong internal struggle
Sophie Cook is, among other things and in no particular order, a football manager, an author, a jet engine technician, a photographer, a mental health worker, Whitehawk FC’s new equality and diversity officer, a public speaker and a transgender person who lives in a horsebox. Most of all, she is happy. Her mission is to try to help other people to be happy, too. Can’t argue with that, right?
Well, she has to argue for it. After an appearance on BBC’s Newsnight a couple of years ago she got 1,000 abusive messages in one hour, including death threats. “I had talked on the programme about people getting offended by different uses of gender and language and I said to the presenter there were certain people who would be offended just because I was on the show – and then they all went and proved me right,” Cook says with a laugh. She has a knack for finding a funny side to stories, which is part of what makes her so good to talk to. Mainly, however, she is worth listening to because her own story is exceptional and her message enriching.
Continue reading…The club’s first equality and diversity officer was known as Steve Cook until 2015 – her transition followed a lifelong internal struggleSophie Cook is, among other things and in no particular order, a football manager, an author, a jet engine technician, a photographer, a mental health worker, Whitehawk FC’s new equality and diversity officer, a public speaker and a transgender person who lives in a horsebox. Most of all, she is happy. Her mission is to try to help other people to be happy, too. Can’t argue with that, right?Well, she has to argue for it. After an appearance on BBC’s Newsnight a couple of years ago she got 1,000 abusive messages in one hour, including death threats. “I had talked on the programme about people getting offended by different uses of gender and language and I said to the presenter there were certain people who would be offended just because I was on the show – and then they all went and proved me right,” Cook says with a laugh. She has a knack for finding a funny side to stories, which is part of what makes her so good to talk to. Mainly, however, she is worth listening to because her own story is exceptional and her message enriching. Continue reading…
