Britain’s most influential transgender individual has spoken out about the abuse she has experienced.

Sarah Brown, 38, from Cambridge, and partner Sylvia Knight, were married, divorced and remarried as civil partners so Sarah could legally become a woman after gender reassignment surgery.

Sarah was ranked 28th out of 100 influential Independent on Sunday’s Pink List, while topping the transgender ranking.

“I have experienced three types of discrimination – transphobia, homophobia and misogyny,” she said in an interview with Cambridge First.

“Since the transition to live as female I’m suddenly a second-class citizen. Suddenly my personal space was invaded and I started getting men touching me and being groped on the Tube.

“All this stuff I had not experienced before. I have also had complete strangers coming up asking me questions about my genitals which is completely rude.”

Sarah works with Citizens Advice and is a city councillor in Cambridge.

“I’m thrilled to be number 28 on this year’s list. Apparently, this makes me the most influential “out” transgender person in the UK,” said Sarah on her web site. (LINK: http://auntysarah.livejournal.com/ ]

“This has come about because of my position as a councillor, where I press very hard for equality issues, as a result of my ongoing transgender activism.

“I feel honoured and humbled to be recognised by the Independent on Sunday in this way. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to those who nominated me. There is still a great deal of work to do to push transgender equality in the UK, and I will continue to push for rights for transgender people. I hope that this recognition will help in that task.”

The web site documents Sarah and her partner Sylvia’s trials in living as transgender partners since 2005 – including details about her medical procedures and transgender activism.

Top of the list was Elly Barnes, a teacher and trainer from North London. Each year, the Independent on Sunday asks readers to nominate lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people who are working to improve the lot of minorities.