Led by the child who simply knew

[miss_nyxie]

The twin boys were identical in every way but one. Wyatt was a girl to the core, and now lives as one, with the help of a brave, loving family and a path-breaking doctor’s care.

Jonas and Wyatt Maines were born identical twins, but from the start each had a distinct personality.

Jonas was all boy. He loved Spiderman, action figures, pirates, and

Comments

[ladypolitik]

Mod Note: You can post the whole article, just put the majority of it (like, save for the first 2 or 3) under a lj-cut.

[miss_nyxie]

Ok, thanks.

[ladypolitik]

whoops, that should say "2 or 3 [paragraphs]", my bad

off topic, but

[seasontoseason]

"The twin boys were identical in every way but one. "
I hate how lazy writers / pop culture tends to treat twins as mythical creatures and has no idea that "identical" twins is a technical term meaning "monozygotic."

[pandaseal]

Wow, I remember that lawsuit and the ensuing bathroom panic bullshit. I believe I saw Nicole on the news and she was an excellent speaker. I can't imagine having that level of bravery, given the truly awful things that were being said.

[the_gabih]

That family sounds awesome (though, ugh, that boy and his grandfather. What on Earth did they need to complain about?)

I have to say, though- I dislike the idea that so many people's idea of coming out is specifically telling people you're trans. Surely living as your preferred gender is a form of coming out?

[lizzy_someone]

I just read a thing about this (http://supermattachine.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/stealth-shaming-what-it-is-why-you-shouldnt-do-it-and-how-not-to/), and I (admittedly as a cis person) totally agree. It seems to me that the concept of being "out" applies rather differently to queer people vs. trans people.

[tabaqui]

Seems to me that, unless you're going to be intimate with someone, why would you tell them 'oh, hey, i used to be a guy'? If you're living as your preferred gender, i can't imagine even mentioning it - it's just not relevant.

[chibi_lurrel]

It's a big part of her life, though, so I can understand why it would be nice to have friends you could talk to about it. At 14 there was a ton of body talk with my friends and me.

[trobadora]

Jonas was all boy. He loved Spiderman, action figures, pirates, and swords.

Wyatt favored pink tutus and beads. At 4, he insisted on a Barbie birthday cake and had a thing for mermaids. On Halloween, Jonas was Buzz Lightyear. Wyatt wanted to be a princess; his mother compromised on a prince costume.

Once, when Wyatt appeared in a sequin shirt and his mother’s heels, his father said: “You don’t want to wear that.’’

“Yes, I do,’’ Wyatt replied.

“Dad, you might as well face it,’’ Wayne recalls Jonas saying. “You have a son and a daughter.’’

Wow, gender stereotyping much? *eyerolls*

Just once I want to see an article about this topic that doesn't do this.

[msloserrific]

That made me give a side-eye too. I hate when writers boil gender identity into classic gender stereotypes, as if one has any bearing on the other. So if Jonas watched Sailor Moon instead of Spiderman, he wouldn't be "all boy" anymore? Would Nicole be any less of a girl if she shared the same interests as her brother? (In fact, later in the article, she says just that - she grew up around so many boys that she and her brother like a lot of the same things, so she considers him lucky that they can relate)

What about budding drag queens who might want to strut in heels and a sequin top, but do not identify as transgender? Are they quasi-boys? (Reverse applying for pint-sized drag kings, though I feel like there would be much less of a pearl-clutching response if a little girl wanted to wear her dad's loafers and tie)

Not to say the article as a whole was bad, but that part stuck out to me too.

[miss_nyxie]

though I feel like there would be much less of a pearl-clutching response if a little girl wanted to wear her dad's loafers and tie)

idk, look at the way the media treats Shiloh Jolie-Pitt

[msloserrific]

Point taken.