At Lancaster House, London on 26th October 2006, at a ceremony to mark the first ever Civil Service Diversity & Equality Awards, a:gender were presented with the ‘Inspiration’ (Changing Perceptions and Breaking Through Barriers) award by Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service.

The Civil Service website reported, “Often seen as the ‘forgotten diversity strand’, gender identity issues are seldom understood or included amongst diversity policy and practice. a:gender has achieved much to significantly raise the profile of gender identity issues, representing staff from across the Civil Service.

“The judges recognised the passion, personal risk, courage and inspiring way in which the network has conducted itself over the last few years in lobbying persistently for trans-rights and equality in the workplace. For the leadership of a:gender, this has meant forsaking the privacy they sought and volunteering to face potential discrimination, as they challenged entrenched prejudice and misconceptions regarding transsexual or transgender people. a:gender is now highly valued and respected, but its volunteer trans-men and women are dedicated to continuing to provide help, advice, guidance and inspiration to all, often through dedicating much of their own time and resources to deliver the network’s objectives.

“a:gender are now recognised as a valuable source of expert advice and members have generated much best practice and good case study material on the issues and barriers faced by the trans community.”

a:gender Chair, Dee, commented, “a:gender has been knocking on many doors across the Civil Service. Some doors open readily. This award should oil the hinges of the others. There is still helluva long way to go – but if we can succeed in keeping full-scale and detail specific trans-inclusion well and truly on the Gender Equality menu for 6 th April 2007 and beyond – then I believe we will show that the award was deserved.”