New BBC documentary ‘Young, Trans and Looking for Love’ follows the dating lives of trans people

Central to the documentary is the relationship between Arin Andrews and Katie Hill, the first openly transgender teen couple in America.

The couple, Arin, 19, and Katie, 21, met whilst transitioning in Oklahoma in 2012 and shared their experience online – posting photos and videos that charted the physical changes to their bodies and the emotional challenges they faced. Their story has won them a large online following, many of whom are also young trans people.

Katie said: “I don’t think anyone unless they know our story would come to the conclusion that we’re a trans man and a trans woman dating.

“They would just see us as a boy and a girl dating.”

Arin said: “I’ve always loved women and liked women as a female because I’ve always deep down known that I was straight male.”

The couple has inspired other trans teens, who also star in the documentary.

Devon Ellerman, an 18-year-old transgender male, is also looking for love and the documentary follows his turbulent journey.

He said: “When I was younger I saw a few of Arin’s videos. Watching his videos definitely made me feel that I wasn’t all alone. There’s folks out there that feel the same way I do.

“It’s a little bit difficult in the dating scene because I don’t really know anybody and nobody really knows me.

“I think the ultimate goal, at the end of my life, I’d definitely want to find somebody that I’m in love with.

Claire Green, 20, from Virginia, believes that men lose interest when they find out she was born male. She says: “I’ve met a lot of douchebags and jerks and I really want to meet a gentleman.

“Most guys I’ve met, I’ve met them one time literally and then after that nothing.

“I’ve never had an actual relationship and it’s kind of odd for me like how. What is the issue?

She said: “I would just like someone to spend time with, to cuddle and just do little things, the little things mean the most to me.

“What are the odds that two people who are transgender and struggling with the same things kind of find each other and fall in love.

“I think very inspirational and I wish I could find something like that.”

Young, Trans and Looking for Love’ aired at 9m on 23 November on BBC Three. It is now available BBC iPlayer.