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LGBT children

This board is primarily for parents of LGBTQ+ children to share personal experiences and advice. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful that this is a supportive space.

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13 year old daughter has announced she's trans at Christmas Lunch

36 replies

PolyplaxSerrata · 26/12/2019 10:35

I've name changed for this but yesterday, at lunch, DD3 announced she was Trans, we were to use the pronouns he/ him and a new name.
I had suspected something for a while as she's ( I'm going to use she to talk about her before she made this announcement) been using a binder for a year or so now and has wanted to dress in boys clothes for a bit.
I even asked her a couple of times if she was wondering about her gender but she's always told me that she was female, just didn't like boobs/ periods etc.
She has a dx of ASD with PDA traits and has had a long held fear of being kidnapped, which is why she likes to look like a boy.. She also has a friend at school who is trans and is influenced by people she follows online.
Our immediate family are being supportive but DH and I are concerned if transitioning is the right thing for her , given her DX and this belief that she is somehow safer as a boy. She has two older sisters , including one gay who seems to be responsible for yesterday's timing, and a younger brother.
I'd love to know if there are any organisations that I can contact that don't have an agenda for or against transitioning as I feel DD needs help to work out what is really going on.
We also have the worry that she is at a single sex school. They have some trans kids there but they go by they/ them and DD is insisting on he/ him.
Any suggestions of where to find help?
We will make a GPs appointment but I think the waiting lists are closed around us.

OP posts:
nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 29/12/2019 17:46

I'd be supportive but cautious of encouraging it, if only due to this belief that boys are somehow safer. I'd want her to have some independent counselling to really be sure of her motives. I also wouldn't allow puberty blockers or any permanent changes, surgical, chemical or otherwise until she is over 16 and really truly sure and capable of making an informed and not emotionally driven choice.

Itsigginingtolookalotlikexmas · 29/12/2019 17:50

Sunshineandflipflops what "professional perspective" are you coming from? That's a bit vague!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/12/2019 18:04

Good luck, OP. I wouldn't go anywhere near Mermaids, as they are known for recommending instant total affirmation of trans status for children like yours, and I don't think that's helpful at all.

How much access does your child have to the internet, unmonitored? I'd look carefully at that.

As you try to find out more about this issue you might find it useful to look at blogs and tweets from detransitioners. Their numbers are growing very fast now. Most have a very similar story to your child's and now they are in their 20s many have finally come to terms with being female and are now living as women again. In some cases they had medical treatment which they now regret. www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/meet-detransitioners-women-became-men-now-want-go-back/ This link is to a Telegraph article on Charlie Evans who runs this Twitter account as well as her own: @DetransAdNet.

Lily Maynard is another useful person to look out for. She went through what you're going through now, gave her daughter unconditional love and support but refused to use different pronouns. After a short time her daughter changed her mind about transitioning and is now a happy young lesbian woman.

Sunshineandflipflops · 29/12/2019 18:18

I'm not disclosing what my profession is due to wishing to retain anonymity but TT are transphobic...their name says it all. Being trans is not a trend and the actual numbers of people who have transitioned and 'changed their minds' is extremely low...much lower than those who have transitioned and not regretted it.

I'm not advising surgery for children (it's illegal anyway) and by the time most young people have got to the top of the waiting list for the Tavistock and Portman Centre where they receive in depth assessment and support, most children are barely children anyway.

Anyway, I came on here to offer support as I do have a lot of experience in this area, not just opinions so as I said, message me if you want to chat. Best of luck with your and your dc.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 29/12/2019 18:29

the actual numbers of people who have transitioned and 'changed their minds' is extremely low...much lower than those who have transitioned and not regretted it Statistics and references please? Oh that’s right, the TRAs have actively protested against any research on detransitioning people, so there are no true statistics.

I’m still waiting for those Peer reviewed studies on suicide numbers.

Itsigginingtolookalotlikexmas · 29/12/2019 19:13

You absolutely don't have to reveal your job sunshine but you can't use it as support for your argument in that case!

CaramelMama · 29/12/2019 19:17

I would support her but at the same time be careful. I have ASD and I too came out as a trans at about the same age. My parents started counselling with A Trans counsellor. But over the years I came to realise that that wasnt what I wanted . I didnt want to be a man, I just didn't feel comfortable in dresses, with boobs etc, it was my ASD confusing me, I dressed like a boy and did boys activities, people expected me to be more feminine and I rebelled. I didn't unserstand that it was ok to wear what I wanted because others often critisied or auggeates I was wanting to be a boy. I found puberty horrible and still do and I was attracted to both male and female. My doctor helped in some way by stopping my periods at the time, it made me feel more comfortable in myself. But by that time people were aware of the fact I had became "Trans", my parents had assumed I was after watching a trans program, I didnt underatand it at all really, just that I was different, so I eventually agreed that I was trans. I began meetings and discussions with doctors etc and started to call myself "him and he", I uses a male name for a few years, and it never felt right, but by then I felt unable then to say "No this isnt what I want" after all. I assumed I must be trans because others didn't think I fitted in any other box.
After the doctor stopped my periods I felt more at ease and happier with my body, but couldnt explain to others, I was approaching time for treatment to change over and it terrified me. I rebelled and self harmed, I ended up in trouble with the law. Then ended up in prison for petty offenses. For most people it would have been horrific but for me it allowed thing to stop and slow down, all interederance and talking about trans stopped in prison. I felt more free and able to be myself, Eventually I worked up the courage to tell my family, but its never been put behind me I often return to my home town and feel so embarressed because people question why I never had that sex change or they ask me if I was the He/She. I was judged by kids at school when I came out and bullied. Then bullied again when I returnes home after prison wanting to be a woman again.
20+ years later I'm now married with a son in a different are, It terrifies me to think how close I came to not been in this position. A friend in one of the trans groups i joined did go through with some changes and now regrets them. Again She has ASD and now cant get rid of facial hair due to the hormones she was given and has to shave twice a day. She has to declare she went from female to male to female again everytime she fills in a passport application or something similar and she now suffers horrific depreasion and suicidal thoughts. I therefore think those on the spectrum need a lot more support with issues like this than they are getting and a lot more time to consider it before taking steps. I allow my son to wear what he wants male or female, but I dont suggest anything to him. ASD can make us open to such suggestions I honestly thought that because someone had noticed I looked like a boy and I was unconfortable with certain thing that I must be trans. Give her all the support you can but dont just assume or let her make rash decisions. If I had gone through with any of it I believe now I'd have commited suicide. I instead became more aware of my ASD and why I felt different. Boobs felt strange, periods were horrible, and I couldnt wear skirts or dresses due to sensory issues, I loved football, gymnastics and climbing trees and computer games and yeah I like women, they may be stereotypically boys things but girls are allowed to behave like that and if people were more open about people been comfortable in their owm body rather than fitting in atereotypical boxes then I'd have felt happier just saying "No I just dont like dresses, periods etc and I'm bisexual"
I always had my hair ahort because I couldnt abide it been on my face not becauae it was a boya cut, it just irritated me. Now I have it long, because I managed to grow it long enough to tie it right back out the way. I have boobs but still hate them and wear baggy tops ans trousers and I still take medication to stop my periods with the occassional break to clear my system.
If your daughter is hanging round with a trans person she may well be thinking that this is the Norm, if you have askes hee if ahe ia trans, she will question it herself, my mum did it out of love, but now I believe it was the worst thing she could have done because if I was truely trans I'd have worked up the courage when I was ready to, to say it, suggesting it to me made me question myself. It makes me more concious of not making that mistake with my own kids. My mum would have been happy signing for me to have the op or start treatement because she believed it was what I wanted she isnt a bad mum she juat wantes the beat ans xouks aee mw unhappy. My dad however didnt think i was reasy to make the decision and wanted me to hold off until I was an adult and just live as i wanted too first, he always made it clear he'd accept what I wanted but he helped me pace myself and take time to stop and think. Thats what I have to be thankful for. Because otherwise I'd have started treatment at first suggestions of mw bwen trans instead I was given freedom to be myself, my biggest regret though was telling others around me that I waa a trans person, school friends, peers etc before I really knew what I wanted myself. Even now I avoid get together with old friends or neighbours becauae of gossiping. You cant take back such decisions, even if the op is reversible eveeything else isn't. Let your daughter live how she wants, give hwe counselling but dont amke the mistake of helpibg her get treatment too soon. Make sure you get her counselling and make aure whoever she ia been aypported by doesn't just specialise in trans issues but also ASD. If Id been able to ait down and diacuaa what was my ASD and what waa sexuality and trans stuff I probably wouldn't have gone as far as I did. The ability to mother a child cant be replaced and thats one thing I am grateful for, that I managed to stop it bedore I loat the baility to become a mum. I know theres adoption etc but its not the same in my eyes. If I'd started treatment I honeatky believe now Id have been sectioned or dead by now. Sorry to spout so long and be so confusing but this is an sisue i feel very perosnal on. Im not syaing your daughter isnt trans by any way. Just that you beed to aupport her propelry though this and dont make rash decisions or suggest how she may feel. Aome peooke with ASD dont know how they feel themselves so having feelings suggested to them is an easier way of dealing with what they dont understand. Make it clear you will live her whatever, but make aure ahe gwta prowpr support and help from both Trans and ASD sides.

Italiangreyhound · 29/12/2019 20:16

CaramelMama thank you for sharing so powerfully about your tragic experiences. I am so happy you were able to have your son and find yourself in the midst of all this.

Flowers
PolyplaxSerrata · 29/12/2019 20:18

Caramel Mama, thank you for your reply. It's really good to hear from people in your position.

OP posts:
moomoogalicious · 29/12/2019 20:53

Aome peooke with ASD dont know how they feel themselves so having feelings suggested to them is an easier way of dealing with what they dont understand

This x100. Thank you @CaramelMama for putting this so succinctly

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 29/12/2019 21:28

orangepeeled, says views like mine was drive so many trans kids to suicide.

But this isn't what's happening. Suicides among trans kids are "extremely rare", according to the Tavistock, the only NHS clinic for kids with gender issues.

Of course any suicide is a tragedy and we should be trying to prevent every last one. But children with gender dysphoria are at no higher risk than anyone else of that age group being treated for MH issues.

So why the inaccurate suicide claims? orangepeeled is not alone on this thread today in making this suicide claim. Sunshineandflipflops does the same:

I'd rather have a trans child who is here and happy than they be another tragic statistic because they haven't had the support the need

There's no evidence of this sky high suicide rate. But there's lots of evidence that medical transition is likely to cause significant harm. Puberty blockers cause a loss of about 10% of your IQ, Medical transition makes the child sterile, removes sexual function and many kids will never experience orgasm. Depending on which sex you are, you may have increased risks of numerous serious health problems, from cancer to heart disease.

Few people would consent to a medical treatment with such serious and often permanent ill effects on their children, unless it was a matter of life and death. This is where the lies about the suicide rate among this group come in. The only way activists can convince loving parents to allow medical transition is by telling them that it really is a matter of life and death.

I'm sure many well-meaning people (and I include orangepeeled and . Sunshineandflipflops in this) have been given inaccurate information about suicide by people or organisations they trusted and repeat it in all honesty.

But it isn't true and should be challenged whenever it is repeated.

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