Issue one: Contents

Peaches Christ
Buck Angel
How to be a successful stalker
Hayley Cropper
Lauren Harries
Five documentaries you should own
Strut your tranny stuff in London
How to look like Pete Burns

About the author

You might think I'm taking the piss, but who's the best-known transsexual in Britain? Why, it's cuddly Hayley Cropper from Coronation Street, of course. Since she waddled onto our screens in 1998 and announced she used to be Harold, Hayley has sweetened the transsexual pill and slowly but surely confronted many trans issues, delivering them into the homes of the mainstream that would otherwise have remained blissfully unaware.

OK, the fact she's played by a "real" woman leaves her on shaky ground, but Hayley's story lines have seen her deal with oppression on many levels and she has stood her ground to reach the point where she is accepted and respected by her peers.

Firstly she suffered rejection by a loved one - poor old Roy was thrown into a whirl of confusion when he realised his chick had a dick, but he eventually confronted his feelings and went to get her back. On a more political level, she has fought for the right to marry, dealt with prejudice in the work place (she was sacked by Mike Baldwin when her "secret" was revealed), and fought for the right to foster children.

You can put as many documentaries on TV about these issues as you like, but the majority won't watch them. The only way to get the point across to the layperson is to present them in a manageable format, and Coronation Street has done just that.

The effect of the programme has been strong enough to reach parliament. As a result of the storyline, in 1999 MPs called upon the House of Commons to give transsexuals full civil rights. A working group was set up to find ways to overcome the legal problems faced by transsexual people on a daily basis.

While the character has now settled into a more everyday role, her past continues to make itself known, ensuring that her situation is not forgotten.

Meanwhile, actress Julie Hesmondhalgh who plays the part has become a media spokesperson for trans relations and is patron of Press for Change, a group that campaigns for respect and equality for all trans people.

So, Hayley Cropper, we salute you.