20/20 Tonight - Barbara Walters Visits Transgender Children- Page 4

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:00pm

Muscle, I think I can speak for most of us when saying that you never having children is a huge load off our minds. All kids fight with their siblings. These kids would be roughhousing even if there was no gender questions. And as for you "allowing" your child to be transgendered, that is one of the most idiotic statements I have ever heard coming from a self identifying out gay person. And what do you have against snakes? We are very nice pets.

As they said in the program, there is a difference between WANTING to be the opposite sex and IDENTIFYING as a member of the opposite sex.
These kids don't just want the frilly girly things, they feel as if they are in the wrong body. That their "upper" is different than their "lower", which is why I found the attraction to the mermaids so fascinating.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:09pm

Yes, the mermaid symbolism was beautiful.

The fact of the matter is this: sexuality & gender identity are extremely complex things--unique for each human. What we must do is educate ourselves and treat others with respect--even if we don't understand how, what, why, etc.

And if one ever has a child, you better love that child unconditionally and accept them for who they are.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 1:04pm

Well, let me rephrase it, I just don't think a child is sometimes ready to make that kind of decision. Anyways, as I said it's not going to happen since I don't plan on having children.
I think that the desire to want to be something you are can be very self hating and can even be distructive. The puberty stage, when there are going to be major changes, these little boys that NOW look like girls, are going to go through hell.
I don't know, it's just a thought, so don't take everything I say as a final word, I haven't gone through it, I am just stating my 1st impression.

Sueleen, what DON'T I have against snakes would be a better question!

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 4:01pm

I didn't get to see this special last night, but I once did a huge research project on this what I recall is that is is not at all uncommon, in fact 1/10,000 births results in something other than XX or XY. In fact there are at least different 23 identifiable chromosomal combinations.

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 8:32pm

It was very sad for me to watch these poor little children go through this. But I think they need to wait until they are at least 21 before the have any surgery. i think instead of so much focus on their bodies, they need to focus on education, arts, dancing, singing,sports, something that they love too do.

I met some pre transgenders when I lived in Seattle and they were all in college. One was studying designing and another Law. They told me that there was nothing worst then a transgender without an education. After surgery they need to support themselves.

My heart goes out to these kids.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 10:49am

Finally I saw some of this on 'The Site'. Wow. Just, wow.

[avab802]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 11:16am

I just found this thread, so pardon me for bumping up an old topic. I watched the program when it aired and was also teary-eyed through the whole thing.

1/10,000 births results in something other than XX or XY.

RadiGal, my partner (who used to be a labor & delivery nurse) told me something similar. All embryos start out female; males form because of Y chromosome in the sperm. In the case of transgendered individuals, the Y chromosome doesn't "set" properly resulting in either a (physical) girl with too much Y or a (physical) boy with too little.

I think there is a big difference between a boy who wants to do girly things and dress in girl's clothes (as a few of the men on this thread have described doing as children) and a boy who, at 2 years old, views his penis as a birth defect and wants to cut it off.

I also think Riley's parents need to do more to help her. She just looked so sad. My thought was, why don't they move? She could start over at a new school, as a girl, where she can tell people when she's ready to trust them. Her current situation (being called "girl with a dick" etc every day) sounds very difficult. Her father also didn't seem like he was totally on board with her transition.

Oh, last thing... someone mentioned what will happen to Jazz if she ever decides she wants to be a boy, having to "come out" as a boy to her classmates who now know her as a girl. Her mother mentioned in the interview that they don't allow Jazz to go to another child's home or allow a child to come to their home to play with Jazz unless Jazz's "condition" (for lack of a better word) has been explained to the parents and the child. So all of Jazz's close friends already know she is physically a boy. Her teachers and other adults at her school know also. So while it may still be difficult if she were ever to decide to live as a boy, it sounds like she has a good network of people who understand her situation and would be supportive.

[suzycat]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 12:06pm

Does anyone have a link to this segment?