Mother of trans woman convicted of rape says their child never showed signs of wanting to be a girl

The mother of Isla Bryson has come forward and spoken about the childhood of the convicted rapist, claiming she never mentioned wanting to be a girl as a child.

The transgender rapist was convicted in January at Glasgow High Court of raping two women in Scotland while still known as a man, Adam Graham.

During the trial, she claimed that she had identified as being transgender from the age of four.

The court also heard that Bryson is currently taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment.

Bryson said she had identified as being transgender from the age of four.
Andrew Milligan

Bryson was originally sent to an all-female prison before being moved to the male estate after a surge of outrage at the decision.

Last week, HMP Cornton Vale confirmed Bryson was not in contact with women while housed at the prison.

Now, the 31-year-old’s mother told the Sunday Mail her child gave no indication of being transgender while growing up.

She said: “I don’t know why it took him until he was 29 to say he wanted to become a woman.

"But I understand why some people think it’s just a way of getting out of going to a male prison.

“My son never expressed any wish to me that he wanted to be a girl, dressed in any other way or ever asked to be called by any other name than Adam growing up.

"Never once, at the age of four or at any other age.

“I would understand it more if this had been something he had been doing for years but that’s just not the case.”

Bryson was originally sent to an all-female prison before being moved to the male estate after a surge of outrage at the decision.
Andrew Milligan

The Scottish Prison Service carried out an urgent review of the case and made recommendations on the management of transgender prisoners.

Bryson’s mother said she understood concerns over her being placed in a women’s prison, telling the Sunday Mail: “My son is a rapist. I don’t see how he can go to a women’s prison.

"I understand why people have been so worried about someone like Adam, who has done what he has done, being sent to a prison full of women.”

Isla Bryson will be sentenced later this month.