people stopped swearing in front of me,
which doesn't make any sense at all.
People would swear in front of me,
and then, realize I was in the room,
and go, "Oh sorry, Ayla."
It's like, a year ago, you
Seriously.
And I do use language quite
freely, so, I don't
decided that they couldn't be as
free with their speech as they used to be.
People stopped swearing. It made no sense at all.
Ayla Holdom was a Search and Rescue Sea King pilot based at RAF Chivenor. In 2011, she became the first openly transgender pilot in the British Armed Forces. One of her colleagues was HRH The Duke of Cambridge who invited her and others from their unit to his wedding in April 2011. Holdom retired from the RAF in 2015 after a 13-year career to fly police helicopters.
Anglesey , United Kingdom
| Role Pilor | Rank Flt Lt | Age 37 |
I came out as transgender while serving.
Ayla Holdom
Naked on the phone to Prince William
Ayla HoldomThe safety of the casualty comes last.
Ayla Holdom
He wasn't a prince. He was part of the team.
Ayla Holdom
Trump is wrong.
Ayla Holdom
She had plenty of power and liked being used.
Ayla HoldomYou can't just go riding in like a hero.
Ayla HoldomLightning Strikes. Twice.
Ayla Holdom
I admitted I was gay. They could have sent me to prison.
Carl Austin-Behan
There are things that civilians just don't understand.
Joan Ochuodho
My sexuality has no impact on my role in the RAF.
Kate Brophy
The LGBT+ Freedom Network has gone from strength to strength
Sqn Ldr Catherine Lawson
There's no reason to hide anymore
Cpl Mike Taylor
I kept a side of my life hidden away
Cpl Mike TaylorIt took a long time but the changes have been amazing
Cpl Mike Taylor
The squadron gay
Conner ThirkillSome people still don't know that it's fully accepted
Connor ThirkillThe RAF has become a beacon of inclusivity
Sqn Ldr Catherine Lawson
