In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, UK boxing legend and UKIP candidate Kellie Maloney, formerly known as Frank Maloney, came out as transgender.
Maloney worked for three decades as a boxing promoter, helping Lennox Lewis gain the world heavyweight title.
“I was born in the wrong body and I have always known I was a woman. I can’t keep living in the shadows, that is why I am doing what I am today. Living with the burden any longer would have killed me.
“What was wrong at birth is now being medically corrected. I have a female brain. I knew I was different from the minute I could compare myself to other children. I wasn’t in the right body. I was jealous of girls.” she told The Mirror.
In 2004 she generated controversy when running in the mayoral election saying she didn’t want to campaign in Camden because there were “too many gays”.
She then expanded on her statement to BBC News Online, saying:
“I don’t have a problem with gays, what I have a problem with is them openly flaunting their sexuality.
“I will go to Camden. I’m not a career politician – I’m not going to say one thing one day. I said it as an off the record remark.
“I’m more for traditional family values and family life. I’m anti same-sex marriages and I’m anti same-sex families.”
Maloney said to the Mirror that she was unable to come out until she was 61 years of age because she feared backlash from the highly masculinity-centered world of boxing.
“I have never been able to tell anyone in boxing,” she said. “
“Can you imagine me walking into a boxing hall dressed as a woman and putting an event on?
“I can imagine what they would scream at me. But if I had been in the theatre or arts world nobody would blink an eye about this transition.”
“>Malonely retired from her prolific career in boxing last year. She was suffering from depression and bouts of heavy drinking. checked myself into a private clinic where they dealt with drug, alcohol and depression issues. They were very good to me.“They didn’t use a lot of medical advice. I only told them I was suffering. I didn’t tell them why. I couldn’t. The way I looked at it was that I would either beat it or kill myself.” Maloney has been using her retirement to develop her identity out of the public eye.
“I made the decision a long time ago but I retired from boxing because of my profile. I thought that what I wanted to do was to transition in a positive and private way. I closed my websites down, took my Facebook down and my Twitter account so that I could transition peacefully. The suicide rates from the pressure on a transsexual woman are very high and I didn’t want to get caught up in it.”
While some expressed suspicions that the story was a hoax, many have expressed support for Maloney’s decision to come out. Lennox Lewis, who Maloney managed from 1989-2001 and guided to win the heavyweight title, said the following in a statement:
“I was just as shocked as anyone at the news about my former promoter and my initial thought was that it was a wind-up. The great thing about life, and boxing, is that, day to day, you never know what to expect. This world we live in isn’t always cut and dried or black and white, and coming from the boxing fraternity, I can only imagine what a difficult decision this must be for Kellie.“However, having taken some time to read Kellie’s statements, I understand better what she, and others in similar situations, are going through. I think that all people should be allowed to live their lives in a way that brings them harmony and inner peace.“I respect Kellie’s decision and say that if this is what brings about true happiness in her life, then so be it. LiveAndLetLive.”
Maloney said she was ready to undertake a new stage of her life.
“I want to go out there and help others going through this. For now, I am mentally preparing myself for the rest of my life.”
