20/20 Tonight - Barbara Walters Visits Transgender Children — Page 3

Rath, I thought the same thing. Wasn't she a dishwasher at a restaurant? I wondered how she could afford her apartment, let alone all that surgery.

I have a friend whose husband is in the very early stages of all of this. I have absolutely no idea how they'll afford it (I don't think they do, either).

---

Updated On: 4/27/07 at 04:11 PM

Perhaps the reassignment surgery is covered by medical insurance?

I agree, Kringas.

---

I was the same way, husk. When I was young I wanted to be a girl so badly (I'm sure that will surprise no one). I can still remember the hot mess my household was when I said to someone on the school bus that I was going to have a sex change operation when I grew up and my sister overheard and told my parents.

I really have to hand it to parents who are willing to let their children consider that they don't have to ascribe to the expected gender role. I often think I'd have grown up more well adjusted if my folks at had just let me play with dolls and do all the other "girly" things I wanted to do.

---

I think bree has 2 jobs in transamerica. it was a subtle way of conveying that people who are not rich have to work hard and save up a lot of money to do this. lots of people in her financial situation manage to do it. they wait tables and work multiple jobs. and those jobs are usually crappy--the result of much prejudice in our society. note how the restaurant wouldn't let her be a waitress until after the transition.

i'm not certain where we differ in what we were each trying to say, rath. :) my feelings are just that kids who know at an early age have the option thanks to progress and the internet to see that there is hope for them if they are truly transgendered. kids who are truly just going through a phase will come to that realization as well. were you saying that some kids who are going through a phase might get the wrong idea that they are transgendered?

in any event, I hope kids have access to a counselor of some kind who can let them know the many possibilities and help them deal with things however they currently stand.

and it's prob a good idea that children can't begin transistion until a certain age. I imagine it would be dangerous to begin before puberty finishes? I hope the show deals with that.

---

My dad is a teacher at a small school for gifted kids and he told me about a student he had several years ago. Apparently, this boy (who was about 9 or 10) was aware on some level that he is gay and said that he felt like he was both a boy and a girl. I had never thought of it like that. I thought that was such a great way to put it, and very prescient for such a young kid.

---

My five-year old plays with dolls as well as toys traditionally considered "appropriate" to boys. At present, he seems to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the ladies. He registered for kindergarten on Wednesday and was quite shy with the teachers and other school administrators. Then two moms walked in with their daughters, and he made a point of walking over to the two little girls and introducing himself. What a flirt!

But if it's just a phase and he winds up being attracted to boys, that's his business. I'll just do whatever I can to support him and help him through any challenges he faces with the narrow-minded homophobes in the world.

---

Thanks, sweetie. That is very kind of you to say.

I think we should all embrace our feminine AND masculine qualities. You are what you are, so LOVE it!!!

---

Jazz is a good little singer! This is absolutely heartbreaking, and so fascinating at the same time.

'and it's prob a good idea that children can't begin transistion until a certain age. I imagine it would be dangerous to begin before puberty finishes? I hope the show deals with that.'

But you see that's the biggest problem....once puberty is over males voices have changed, adam's apples become prominent, facial and body hair grows..making it a far more difficult process to transition AFTER all of that has happened.

And no, medical insurance usually will not cover any type of gender reassignment procedures, even the hormone therapy.

---

Updated On: 4/27/07 at 11:01 PM

I'm upset--I passed out two minutes into Riley's segment. I was very moved by seeing Jazz. What a beautiful child. Her parents must be so scared, but they are so amazingly supportive! I loved them for that. Her mom was so candid about her own disappointment (when she said she felt like she lost her baby boy)--it seemed like she felt guilty about it. Whatever hardships Jazz is going to face, how lucky is she to have that kind of unconditional love and acceptance from her parents? It was very touching.

Updated On: 4/28/07 at 12:20 AM

I didn't cry.
I thought it was very well done.
My issue was that when they showed Riley crying, it was out of context, because they didn't show the question that made her cry.
It seems kinda sad, I was also wondering, I used to play with Barbies and I was obsessed with Joan Collins in Dynasty and probably wanted to be her, and I knew I liked men, yet, what if my parents would have told me "Ok, you can be a girl"? haha...I mean, I don't know, it seems odd somehow, Riley's parents let her own a huge snake. It seems like they just give their children anything they wish for?
I am gay, yet I don't know if I'd allow my chidren-that I will never have- be a transgender, and definitly I'd never let them have a snake in my home!
It seems very unnatural, I mean, when they go through puberty, it has to be painful and frustrating.
Also Riley being physically violent toward her sister, what the hell? You want to be a girl to beat up your sister? WTF!
I was very girlie in my childhood and kids picked on me, yet today, I wouldn't want to be a woman AT ALL! But back when I was younger I had moments I wished I were a girl. I mean, although they might not admit it, most gay men wanted to be girls in a certain moment, coming out can be a bitch!

---

"I am gay, yet I don't know if I'd allow my chidren-that I will never have- be a transgender, and definitly I'd never let them have a snake in my home!"

how would you feel if you were "not allowed" to be gay?

---