Transgender Equality Starts with Us as Parents!

Last December my “son” shared with me that he was Gay. I was one of the first people he shared with knowing my love is unconditional and I am a pretty open minded person. I have a nephew and friends that are Gay, so to me it wasn’t a life shattering revelation. We talked about it, openly shared and we went on. Then a couple of months ago, my son once again said he had more news for me. I was worried, wondering if he was okay, because he had been so distant over the last couple of years, when we had already been close.

We already live a few states apart, so the mental distance was slowly killing me as I missed the relationship my son and I use to have. This time he didn’t come to me first, in fact he shared with me last. This really hurt until I heard his reason why. My son is now my older daughter “still getting use to this” but his opening up to me has made us closer then ever. He said he had distanced himself because he had to accept it himself and he was afraid of hurting me. He said he had been going through counseling over the past year and the information he received, is sometimes the mother feels like they have lost a child and he didn’t want to put me through that.

I have asekd him to send me pictures as he goes through his changes, so I am not all surprised at once. He has been doing this and I have to say I now have two beautiful daughters. I try to call her a her but I have called him my son for 26 years and she understands it may take her mom some time. I think the part that hurt the most is I found out in trying to “come out” and deal with the truth he became very depressed and thought about taking his life, but kept telling himself it will be better tomorrow. He said that is the only way he could go on.

I am happy to say, the tomorrows have gotten much better for her and the future now looks a lot more promising. As I explained to my child, he/she is the same person just in the right body to make him/her feel more comfortable with their self. It does not change my love, except maybe to make our bond stronger as I am impressed with how strong my son/daughter is. One day I will be able to quit saying son, but right now, just like him, I am a work in progress.