First trans police officer in Scotland talks of being dropped from army in book
Abi Austen went through a lengthy court battle with the UK government and won after being dismissed from service.
Last updated 3rd Feb 2023
The first trans police officer in Scotland is opening up about her experience of being let go from the British Army in a new tell-all book.
Abi Austen sued the UK government and won after being dismissed from her military career which lasted a decade.
She found herself in the eye of a media storm 17 years ago over the court battle and documents everything in 'Sugar and Spice'.
She told MFR: "When the news of my decision to change my gender was leaked by someone from the Ministry of Defence or someone from the army, it suddenly became very newsworthy.
"I was prepared to make quite a private and personal journey, but I ended up being on the front cover of every newspaper and magazine in Britain over the next two years.
"The army fired me overnight over my decision because there were no rules surrounding trans people at the time."
"I was medically downgraded overnight from being fully ready to go to war to what was regarded as a suicide risk."
Abi's victory in the court case meant that she was confirmed as the first female Parachute Regiment officer in the army - an achievement she is very proud of.
She later joined Strathclyde Police in Glasgow as the country's first ever trans police officer and received even more press attention.
Abi added: "It felt like there was an extra burden on me because I was breaking the mould and I came to the force with a certain degree of fame because I had been in all the newspapers.
"I worked out in Partick and Drumchapel and a lot of people recognised me which gave me a lot of attention that was unwelcome at times.
"During my time with the police, the Scottish Government passed the first ever hate crime legislation in Europe and as a result of that I could libel those transphobic hate crimes."
Over the last decade Abi has gone on to become a top international diplomat and has campaigned for trans rights all over the globe.
She also helped to get Pride into North Macedonia and Afghanistan.