Children & Teens Trapped in the Wrong Bodies
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Anderson spends the hour talking to children who believe they are trapped in the wrong bodies, and discusses their parents’ journey to acceptance. Anderson speaks with experts to get a better understanding of the medical and psychological aspects of transgender people, and how these families are faced with new scientific options that would allow their kids to change their gender.
Anderson also speaks with Domaine Javier, a transgender woman recently expelled from college for applying as a female, as well as Kyle Allums, the first transgender Division 1 basketball player.
Anderson also speaks with Domaine Javier, a transgender woman recently expelled from college for applying as a female, as well as Kyle Allums, the first transgender Division 1 basketball player.
Community Question
As a parent, what would you do if your child insisted that he or she was in the wrong body?
Join the conversation.
Filed Under: Episodes
Comments
Acceptance always
I would accept them for who they are and get them what they needed to be comfortable in their own bodies. Then I would go on with the rest of my life and eat some Chinese food.
hopefully one day i might be able to treat myself and transex
I am so glad that an unbias and actually positive representation of the Transgender community is being exposed on public television. I am currently a college student my boyfiend is an FTM transgender person and has had to struggle along time with his families lack of acceptance. The most oppressive institution towards the Trans community is that of the constructed heteronormativity in our society. This heteronormativity has oppressed the trans community for so long leaving them invisible to the rest of society. The most empowering thing for this community is visibility thats why again I thank you Anderson for brining to light Trans issues in an unbias and humane manner in which those who have not been previously exposed to trans community may look upon with out the predisposed harsh judgement that is so often brout upon Trans individuals.
My child was born female and just recently told me that she has been thinking about this for a long time, has done some very in-depth research, and wants to change her gender. I support her fully, and when she's ready I will start to refer to her as my son. We are now starting a journey to get her onto a treatment to stop the progression of puberty and finding resources for her to deal with the changes and feelings.
my name is sherry horn. I was married to susan horn for 25 years. We had a home, a child, and a life together.He was a respected attorney in Los Angeles.At no time did he disclose, nor did I suspect that he was transgendered.
Once that disclosure was made public, we lost our home, he was disbarred from practicing law, and our personal and financial lives were in ruin.
This is not the first letter, nor publication that I have come accross that extolls the virtues of transexuality. No one has ever approached myself or my daughter to ask what all of this has done to us.One therapist referred to it as my former husband's "amazing" journey. No one ever stopped to consider my amazing journey...loss of my husband, friends, security, etc. Our daughter? Who will walk her down the aisle?There are so many places a trannie can go for help...where does the family go? Who considers our feelings? Should we feel strange because we are straight, or think that it's crazy to have someone you have known and loved suddenly appear with waxed eyebrows and a mini skirt?I submit to you that much of the encouraging and positive hype that surrounds the transgendered community is indeed dollar driven by counselors who refer to themselves as "doctors" and reap obscene profits from medicare and related expenses.And what if they encourage an individual who is severely disturbed to make this final change, then discover they were wrong? Someone needs to do a program that deals with the reality of all of this...ask me. Ask Lisa Dillman, whose husband, Christine Daniels committed suicide, what the other side looks like. Any journalist worth his/her weight, will tell you that the real story is the one you have to dig for.The story isn't about going to Thailand....the story is in dealing with the sense of betrayal and lost lost...for so many.
I just want to say everytime I see something positive on transgender it makes me happy. My child born a boy is transitioning. She is 16 and just told me of this 4 months ago. After years of unexplained behavior I finally asked what is the possibility that you a trapped in the wrong body. She said yes. I did not expect that answer. I am completely behind her and love her and see her as an incredibly strong individual. School has been ok so far except for a couple very insecure boys who are obviously not very comfortable with themselves or they would mind their own business, but you can't change the world. So I say educate and keep doing shows like this. Then again, on that note, maybe we can change the world. Look how far we've come so far. Blacks and whites together. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals all out for everyone to know. We are just people after all no matter what our gender and sexual preference. I love my "new" daughter very much and all I want for her is happiness. Just in case anyone who doesn't agree with me is reading this, I also have other children and they are NOT transgender. So this isn't a I think I'll be a girl tomorrow thing. She was born this way.
I am a 63 year old transsexual woman. I transitioned in mid 50s and had surgery 10 months ago.
I jus*****ched your show on transgender children. I want to thank you. Such information was obviously not available to me when I was a child, yet I knew I was female from age 2 1/2.
I am writing to simply say thank you. I hope you know that you saved lives with your show. I was one of the 41% who luckily survived. Your treatment of the issue, your sensitivity and the information you imparted is part of what needs to be done to reduce that number.
God bless you,
Susan Horn
I wish I would have seen Anderson's show as I am looking for something--anything to help explain to my transgender daughter's grandparents exactly what it means. Admitedly my 90 year old father was surprised, but seemed to deal fairly well. My 87 year old mother, not so much. She keeps thinking that her grandchild is gay instead o*****irl. It breaks my heart that my daughter has refused to see either set of grandparents for the last 18 months because she doesn't want to upset them because she lives as a female. We have legally changed her name and switched schools so she can more easily adapt. If anyone has any great books or programs they might recommend, I'm am totally open.
What's up with all the re-runs and you have not aird our show that we filmed over a month ago????
I belive that every child is born innocent and pure and as responsible adults that we arare suppose to be we need sound judgement and decide what's right for our children.I find it very hard to belive and accept that a child can come up with an idea or feeling like not feeling comfortable in their own skin.I I strongly belive that children should be worried about playing outside playing baseball or with their dolls or jumprope climbing trees.how can a child that one day wants to be a firefighter then the next day wants to be a ninja turtle or cinderella have a true final say in want gender they ultimely want to be.yes children are smart but to encourage such thoughts is very irrisponsible in my opinion because children don't always know what they want and to allow a child to make a life changing decision like that is foolish.to me they are being influenced somwhere because I remember being a kid and I was always having fun like it should be not worrying about my sex,what has this world come to when you have a sexually confuesed child? that's not natural and we are foolish to belive that. Please don't add more confusion to their young naive minds.I think we should let them choose what color they like but its a big leap to.give them the power to.choose their sex.I'm not religous but I belive that god didn't make a mistake when he created all of us and its ungodly to mock.his creations,don't forget god is god he knows what's right for you and if he made you male or female don't rebel againts his wishes for your life.
I belive that every child is born innocent and pure and as responsible adults that we arare suppose to be we need to sound judgement and decide what's right for our children.I find it very hard to belive and accept that a child can come up with an idea or feeling like not feeling comfortable in their own skin.I I strongly belive that children should be worried about playing outside playing baseball or with their dolls or jumprope climbing trees.how can a child that one day wants to be a firefighter then the next day wants to be a ninja turtle or cinderella have a true final say in want gender they ultimely want to be.yes children are smart but to encourage such thoughts is very irrisponsible in my opinion because children don't always know what they want and to allow a child to make a life changing decision like that is foolish.to me they are being influenced somwhere because I remember being a kid and I was always having fun like it should be not worrying about my sex,what has this world come to when you have a sexually confuesed child? that's not natural and we are foolish to belive that. Please don't add more confusion to their young naive minds.I think we should let them choose what color they like but its a big leap to.give them the power to.choose their sex.I'm not religous but I belive that god didn't make a mistake when he created all of us and its ungodly to mock.his creations,don't forget god is god he knows what's right for you and if he made you male or female don't rebel againts his wishes for your life.
I am a transgender female and I am glad you are bringing attention to the subject. I really wish I had been diagnosed when I was a child and treated with hormone therapy in those early days. It is a real struggle now that I am in my 40's. I hope to have my operations completed in the next few years.
Jus*****ched your show. Not sure why I turned on the t.v. at the time I did, but, it tuned me into your segment on teenage cancer. My daughter also just finished her 12 month regimen with chemo just like Dugan and his family. She was featured with Roger Daultry, as were some of the other cancer patients from UCLA in a recent People magazine article. We are just so thankful now that teenage and young adult cancer, although fairly rare, is being brought to the forefront. It has been a much overlooked group, yet a very difficult time in life to be stripped. Thank you so very much!!
To Oscar: It is apparent that you do not have children. Children are wiser than most adults, they have just been released from God and are more in tune with the spiritual flux than adults are. My girlie is an old soul, she has a greater insight and depth than most adults I know, including myself.