A little boy who became a little girl
Two weeks ago, a mother told the Broward County Commission that when her son was two, he started acting like a girl. The child is 7 now, and they've been raising him as a daughter.
The mom showed a photo, and said her child was diagnosed with a gender disorder at age 3.
She was speaking about this because the county was passing a law giving protection against discrimination to transgender people.
I am really torn by this. My heart bleeds for this little child. But I can't help but think a parent should not make a decision that profound when the child is that young.
I don't know much about gender disorders, and I would imagine there's a lot of debate out there in the medical world about it. It just seems possible that the little boy was just playing around. I know I had a very long tomboy phase where I refused to wear skirts or dresses and hated girly stuff. I even had a pair of very boyish shoes I was quite proud of. Nothing with a pointed toe was coming near me.
Thank God my mother did not decide to take me to a therapist -- no telling what I would have said in there.
I know a little boy who wears his sisters' dresses. I'll bet it's not uncommon. Maybe if his mom fed that desire, he'd become even more girly. I don't know. Maybe I'm exhibiting the ignorance of the masses on this. I know they say the suicide rate for transgender kids is really high. Maybe it's because they're forced to remain a gender they don't want to be.
When this kid the County Commission was told about was two and the mom would say, "good boy,'' he would respond with "no, mommy, good girl!'' Then he started wanting to leave the house with a wig on. He stole his mom's makeup, he wanted his fingernails painted every day.
I just don't know what to think about this, except to be heartbroken.
To summarize the debate on this: Is your true self in your body, or in your mind? And even if it's in your mind, is the mind of a 3-year-old capable of knowing what it ultimately wants to be?
Keep reading for the full text of her testimony. It's captivating, really.
And here is a website with more information:
FROM THE FLOOR: Hi. Thank you. I'm here as a
mom today to speak on behalf of my child that is
too young to speak for herself, and I'll put her
picture up here so you all can see. I don't know,
pass it around or whatever you have to do. Seven
years ago I gave birth to my fourth child, a
beautiful baby boy who we named Jared. Since I
already had a four-year-old daughter and twin
two-year-old boys, he completed our family and
brought so much joy into our lives. However, when
Jarred was two and began to form a little
personality. It was apparent he was nothing like
his older brothers. He was attracted to all
things girly andI when I was praise him: Good
boy, he would always correct me and say: No,
mommy, good girl. At first we thought nothing of
it but when we kept insisting to leave the house
in a wig, we knew it was more than a passing
phase. By the time Jarred was three, he was
diagnosed as gender disorder. Jarred continued to
act just like a girl. He was obsessed with all
things bar be, stole my makeup and wanted his
nails painted every day and he never went anywhere
without his be loved mermaid dolls. Even his in
demeanor was delicate, graceful. As I continued
to learn about gender identity disorder, I was
horrified at what I did learn. 50 percent of
trans kids will attempt suicide at least once.
They are depressed, confused, and hate themselves
and their bodies. My husband and I were
determined that our child was not going to be
another static. We never encouraged this belabor
but instead allowed him to be true to himself. By
the age of five, my beautiful baby boy Jarred
became my gorgeous daughter Jarren. A simple
pronoun change, a change of clothes, and some hair
growth was all that it took. Today at the age of
seven, Jarren is a happy, popular well adjusted
little girl who most importantly loves herself.
Little does she know the rough journey ahead of
her but you all know what it means to be
transgender in today's world and as a mom I fear
what she may face. Jarren deserves a fair chance
to lead her life as she believes and be given the
same opportunity as her peers, and I'm happy to
see that change is on the way. She recently told
me that the happiest day of her life was when she
found out she was transgender. May she always
feel this way, always feel good about herself, and
I thank you very much.
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work.
Joy Oglesby has a preschooler...
Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s.
Rafael Olmeda and his wife welcomed their first son in Feb. 2009, and he's helping raise two teenage stepdaughters.
Lois Solomon lives in Boca Raton with her husband and three daughters.
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces.
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 15, and Lily, 7, and is married to a journalist, Bob Norman. She covers Broward County government, which is filled with almost as much drama as the Norman household. Almost.
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator and the father of a 7-year-old girl, and two boys ages 4 and 3.
Kyara Lomer Camarena has a 2-year-old son, Copelan, and a brand new baby. 
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