She's transgendering but have yet to go through sex reassignment surgery. Anyway, I have a feeling that transgender people are more "out" in the UK and are seen as less deviantly shocking.

They integrate better and people around them, although they will pass an initial shock, won't make it too much of a big deal enough to incite a national debate (like I imagine it would in the US). It's the impression I get when I read their tabloids . Brits are welcome to correct such impression.