Shirley Austin, 66, was married twice as a man.
Her fiancé 44-year-old Daniel Harcott got hitched as a woman.
After years of living as a male digger driver, Shirley is now living as a woman. Father-of-two Daniel, who was born female, decided to live as a man. Together, they have found real happiness.
Daniel’s children, 17-year-old Joshua and 14-year-old Mason, also came out as transgender. They are now thought to be the first entirely transgender family in the world!
The family now wants to share their story to urge other transgender people to be true to themselves.
“When the children decided to transition I think we understood each other, so that was kind of neat,” Daniel said as per Mirror.
“It wasn’t like in families where one person comes out and they wonder how they’re going to be treated and whether they’re going to be rejected.”
Daniel met Shirley when he and his children went to a support group for parents of trans children. The two then got engaged in July 2019.
Daniel popped the question in church through a pastor who used sign language.
“I’m the happiest I’ve been in my life,” Shirley expressed. “The last four years with Daniel have been the best.”
Both Daniel and Shirley are on hormones but they have no plans to undergo realignment surgery.
They often look back and laugh at the huge changes they have made to their lives.
The couple dedicate themselves to their charity Rebel and Divine, which has helped hundreds of troubled teens and homeless people.
Daniel and Shirley said their new lives have also drawn support from the trans community.
“A friend once told me ‘Be who you be’ and it is one of my favorite quotes,” Shirley shared. “If somebody’s going to call me ‘Sir’ with my pink shirt, my leggings, long hair and trying to be as feminine as I can, if they’re going to call me ‘Sir’, it’s like, ‘OK, whatever’.
“We are transgender yes, but it is people in their mindset who need to transition about how they look upon us. Be who you are.
“Live your life for you.”
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