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[fadeddesignxx]

Your biologically male or female child comes out to you as transexual. They are thirteen at the time, and have been expressing issues with their gender identity. Do you seek therapy for them, to see about potentially putting them on horomones? Do you ignore the issue? Do you call them by the correct pronouns, and a name they select

Comments

[stratyllis]

I wouldn't let my child get hormone therapy, but I'd call them by the pronouns and name they wanted. If they were an F to M I would have strong opinions about binding, considering how horrible it is for your back.

[fadeddesignxx]

And it deteroriates the breast tissue, but in their case, it's wanted.

[daddysambiguity]

But you'd also have to consider how much more horrible it might be for the FTM child emotionally/mentally to NOT bind -- depending on the particular child, the anxiety from not binding could be 100x worse than some mild/moderate back touble. :)

[stratyllis]

I'm sorry, when did I say I'd stop my child from binding? Oh, that's right I didn't.

[cerulean_me]

For me, it would depend on a lot of things, like how old they are, for one. I would get them therapy and make sure that they didn't have a physical issue. A friend of mine decided that she was really a man, and even started looking into the surgery. Turns out she had a hormonal problem, and once corrected she was once again comfortable in her body. It's not that I'd have a problem with my child changing their gender so much I'd want to rule smaller problems first, if that makes sense.

My children's bodies and minds are their own. I don't get to decide who they are, I can only support them and do my best to help them on the paths of their choosing, no matter which path it is.

[birdlawyer]

I think posts are supposed to be un-locked.

Calling them by their desired name/pronouns would not even be an issue; of course I would, and I think it would be really, really mean not to. As for hormones, I would seek the advice of a trans-friendly therapist and trans friends, as I am really pretty clueless about the whole process.

[fadeddesignxx]

I see locked posts, but I can go unlock this one.

[darkenedminds]

I would have them see a therapist, and would call them by the pronouns and names they select after diagnosed with gender Identity Disorder. I would not allow hormone treatment and would encourage them not to have it after they are out of my care, period, at any point in life, regardless of how they choose to dress and live. I have no problem with transgendered people but I cannot in good conscious support a medical procedure that is so new and little researched, that goes so against what biology dictates.

If my kid were intersexed and, well, transgendered for their chromasomal sex as opposed to what they appear to be, I would more willingly support and allow HRT and appropriate surguries.

[daddysambiguity]

"If my kid were intersexed and, well, transgendered for their chromasomal sex as opposed to what they appear to be, I would more willingly support and allow HRT and appropriate surguries."

But HRT and under-researched surgeries apply to intersexed folks as well.

[darkenedminds]

I know this. I really didn't want to get into my ethical beliefs regarding this, because even though I feel this way, its not important to me and I don't get on my high horse about it. I was just sharing an opinion when asked, not making wank - trans people, and in the future, my hypothetical trans kid can do whatever they want for all I care.

As far as ethical beliefs, I don't mean "oh, being trans is wrong and sinful zomg", but "This surgery goes against physical biology for a sum of money and doctor's time that can save lives". I feel a person with the opposite chromosomes than what they look like is going less against nature because there is a physical ailment causing their physical sex to be different than what they feel, and its not their brain saying their physical sex doesn't match their inner gender.

I have trouble wording this without sounding like a big dick (or, i guess bigger than i mean to be), so I avoid it.

[ladydreamer]

...define new. Sexual reassignment surgeries started at the turn of the 20th century. I'll look it up when I'm not lazy, but the first full transition was somewhere in the 1920/30s. Christine Jorgensen was in the early 50s (How Sex Changed, by Meyerowitz). I know that probably won't change your mind, but I would argue on the "new" definitely, and maybe the "little researched" as well. The surgeries have improved a great deal since their inception.

[asouthernthing]

I would support them in what they chose to do 100%. I waver on the hormone issue, but if they were truly that miserable, I'd probably support that too.