From today's Sun

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A five year old boy who lives as a girl - I heard this mentioned on the Today programme on Radio 4.

Here's the link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4142485/Boy-5-who-...

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The line I found most interesting and am dubious about:

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Frank's picture

"It makes Zach one of the youngest affected kids in the UK. "

I assume that they mean youngest diagnosed...I have no doubt there are plenry of children of both sexes who won't come to terms/come out until older.

Also I noticed the mother used male pronouns and hopes he changes his mind down the line..which of course is quite possible and happens as well...still until she does, I think female pronouns would be more appropriate for a supportive parent.

{{Hugs}}

Hugs

Frank

Elsewhere

Submitted by on

I am in discussion about this elsewhere, but a quick summary (ignoring the slight rant about Greer, Bindel and Raymond) is that:
1. we have a rainbow of gender identity
2. a five-year-old is not very articulate
3. children go through phases
4. this child is very lucky; if it is truly GID, they have far more options ahead of them than most of us. They can be given breathing space to grow into whomever they are in reality, rather than being bundled up into what they have been assigned to.

I use 'it' quite deliberately, but solely as a gender-neutral pronoun.

From the Sun

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Nice to see that the parents are taking a positive and supportive approach to this and I don't think that pronouns are an issue. It's not that I'm outright disagreeing with Frank, but to see that the parents are supporting Zach is much more than many could hope for.

When someone says they have contracted measles, flu or they've broken a bone, it's easy for others to appreciate and sympathise as all are something we come into regular contact with at some point in our lives, but when it's something that challenges all the preconceived ideas that the inside and outside of a human being match by default, can be something that many people find difficult to come to terms with - however supportive they may be.

As for the numbers, I agree wholeheartedly with Frank on this score. I would imagine there are many more who don't get diagnosed, simply because they deal with their issues in a different way, or that their parents are not supportive of the issue and feel that it's either phasic - in other words, something the child will grow out of - or they don't wish to accept that their child may have a problem that just isn't understood by the vast majority of people.

Thumbs up to the family though. Let's hope more will catch on.

Jessica.jpg
I don't just look it, I'm totally in support of Zach's family

PS

I wonder if Zach will get a new name ...

A 5 year old t-kid eh? An Old-Timer! :-)

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Last Friday I met a 3 and 1/2 year old trans-kid after the support group meeting. His/her mother had come to the meeting to get advice and help.

Basically the consensus is that s/he will pretty much know by 8 whether s/he is truly trans or not. Thing is his/her family is known for early puberty, say around 10 to 11 years of age or so anti-androgens were suggested to give them time. Basically two of us emphasized to her what the costs, financial and emotional, would be if s/he went through puberty. S/he was dancing around the diner we go to after the meeting in a girls outfit. Her history included stripping out of any boys clothing as soon as she would arrive home.

I had a long talk with the mother and she seemed level headed. She confessed though that despite her having a fairly liberal outlook it is always different when it is your own kid. All I could suggest to her is that it is only human. I wish her luck.

What was really encouraging though is that his/her entire family was there at that diner to support him/her. This is one kid I think who will get a fair shake at life.

Kim

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