One of the workshops that I went to helped me answer the question that I had and also get asked when I give workshops, how do you know when a child is transsexual.
The workshop was “Working with the Families of Gender Non-Conforming Children” and the key is,
The workshop was “Working with the Families of Gender Non-Conforming Children” and the key is,
- Insistent
- Persistent
- Consistent
That is what you want to look for, that the child is insistent that he should be a girl or a girl should be a boy. That they are persistent in their desire to transition and they are consistent in their desire to change gender.
The presenter said that they have identified three types of trans-children which he called,
The presenter said that they have identified three types of trans-children which he called,
- Transgender
- Gender explorers
- Non-transgender
The non-transgender might start out believing they are transgender but it becomes oblivious that they are not transsexual. While the transgender child showing all three indicators, insistent, persistent, and consistent, can start to socially transition right away and they can start on hormones when they enter Tanner Stage 2. The gender explorers are not quite sure of their gender identity and they don’t show the three traits so they are usually put on puberty blockers until they are teenagers while they socially transition.
He said that about 70% turn out to be non-transgender, 20% gender explorers and 5% transgender with only about 20% of the gender explorers and transsexual children going on to transition fully.
The presenter also covered what to do about parents who don’t approve or is against their religious beliefs. This has always stymied me on what to say to people who asked me that, I didn’t know the answer since they are the legal guarding for the child. His answer was “acceptance is protection,” that if they want the best for their child then the best way to do that is to allow the child to seek their own way. The data shows that all the negative factors like suicide decrease with family acceptance.
For families that hold strong religious beliefs against lesbian, gay and transgender people, the presenter said that the courts are increasingly seeing that by denying children to transition or come out is a form of child abuse. The courts are taking the child out of that environment and placing the child in a home of another family member or in a foster home.
I leave you with Riley’s comment on gender marketing to boys and girls…
He said that about 70% turn out to be non-transgender, 20% gender explorers and 5% transgender with only about 20% of the gender explorers and transsexual children going on to transition fully.
The presenter also covered what to do about parents who don’t approve or is against their religious beliefs. This has always stymied me on what to say to people who asked me that, I didn’t know the answer since they are the legal guarding for the child. His answer was “acceptance is protection,” that if they want the best for their child then the best way to do that is to allow the child to seek their own way. The data shows that all the negative factors like suicide decrease with family acceptance.
For families that hold strong religious beliefs against lesbian, gay and transgender people, the presenter said that the courts are increasingly seeing that by denying children to transition or come out is a form of child abuse. The courts are taking the child out of that environment and placing the child in a home of another family member or in a foster home.
I leave you with Riley’s comment on gender marketing to boys and girls…
Ops... I touched the wrong spot on my Kindle and deleted the post instead of accepting it. So I cut and pasted it from the email.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth has left a new comment on your post "When Kids Transition":
If there is one thing I have learned over my years of helping child born transsexual, like I was, it is that what this person said is dead on about the transsexual child. Persistent, consistent, and insistent is accurate for children born transsexual. Their gender is rarely in question but their firm belief they are the wrong sex is never in doubt to them.
He is in error when classifying them as transgender, gender explorer, and non transgender. The list should have transsexual followed by transgender.
The simple truth is children are precious and whether they are gay, lesbian, transsexual, transgender, or gender questioning they need to be protected. It is what responsible adults should do.
Around the world responsible people are realizing starting cross sex hormones early are important for the child's future.The girls are more feminine and the boys are more height appropriate. Going through the appropriate puberty on time is essential to proper social development. In theory Tanner Stage 2 is okay but earlier intervention is better.
Overall an excellent post.