A transgender former Catholic priest from the UK, who left the church to become her true self as a woman, says transitioning has led her to discover a happy life with her daughter. 

Alisha Cacace, 37, who is from Basingstoke, Hampshire, felt like she was in the wrong body for as long as she can remember.

She told Daily Mail UK, “Once you face that fear, and do it, you feel a lot better in yourself. The best thing I’ve ever done was change over, I don’t think I could ever go back.”

Ever since a visit to an LGBT+ bar, where she saw LGBT+ people being open and happy, she knew she had to transition. She said seeing people being free set off the ‘spark’ in her mind that gave her the drive to transform her life. She has now been on hormone replacement therapy for over a year. 

At the same time, Cacace has been candid in sharing her struggles with feeling uncomfortable growing up in a religious family and being unable to express her true identity.

In reflection, she now says she cherished her time as a Catholic priest, but has begun a new chapter that completely leaves that part of her life behind. She said, “I’m kind of out of that frame of mind of being a clergy member and into the frame of mind of being a transgender girl and focusing on the new life.”

Today, she remains a regularly practising Catholic and said she still feels attached to her faith. She has been able to reconcile being both transgender and Catholic.

“I’ve still got God’s support, definitely still have God’s support. I can feel that,” Ms Cacace said.

“I’m at that point in my life where this is my life. This is how I want to lead it. Go out and be happy.”