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Asiankid0 · 09-27-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Berkeley, California (CNN) -- One of the first things Thomas Lobel told his parents was that they were wrong.

The 3-year-old had learned sign language because he had apraxia, a speech impediment that hindered his ability to talk. The toddler pointed to himself and signed, "I am a girl."

"Oh look, he's confused," his parents said. Maybe he mixed up the signs for boy and girl. So they signed back. "No, no. Thomas is a boy."

But the toddler shook his head. "I am a girl," he signed back emphatically.

Regardless of the fact he was physically male, Thomas has always maintained that he is a girl. When teased at school about being quiet and liking dolls, Thomas would repeat his simple response, "I am a girl."

Thomas, now 11, goes by the name of Tammy, wears dresses to school and lives as a girl.

Her parents have been accused by family, friends and others of being reckless, causing their youngest child permanent damage by allowing her to live as a girl.

When children insist that their gender doesn't match their body, it can trigger a confusing, painful odyssey for the family. And most of the time, these families face isolating experiences trying to decide what is best for their kids, especially because transgender issues are viewed as mysterious, and loaded with stigma and judgment.

Transgender children experience a disconnect between their sex, which is anatomy, and their gender, which includes behaviors, roles and activities. In Thomas' case, he has a male body, but he prefers female things likes skirts and dolls, rather than pants and trucks.

Gender identity often gets confused with sexual orientation. The difference is "gender identity is who you are and sexual orientation is who you want to have sex with," said Dr. Johanna Olson, professor of clinical pediatrics at University of Southern California, who treats transgender children.

When talking about young kids around age 3, they're probably not interested in sexual orientation, she said. But experts say some children look like they will be transgender in early childhood, and turn out gay, lesbian or bisexual.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/health...html?hpt=hp_c1
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I am kinda torn on how to approach this since its such a sensitive topic...everyone has a right to live however they want, and people indeed say "just be who you are, and be happy".....but can you really be happy if the social stigmata and stereotype follows you everywhere? you yourself may feel fine and free dressing up like a girl when you are physically a boy, but what about the environment? your teachers, your friends, employees, acquaintances, others, etc, etc...what will they think?

its a controversial issue, but lets discuss~

ozz8888 · 09-27-2011, 04:40 PM

i feel like im in the wrong body. but i dont were female clothing. but still i can understand what its like to feel like the wrong gender.

Oisterboy · 09-27-2011, 04:46 PM

I know this is a serious topic, but I find it funny because the only transgender person I know uses "Tammy" as his female name

But really, we all know ourselves better than anyone else could ever know us.

Raiyne · 09-27-2011, 05:10 PM

Glad that her parents did not suppress it.

Akeras · 09-27-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiyne

Glad that her parents did not suppress it.

I agree with this personally.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asiankid0

I am kinda torn on how to approach this since its such a sensitive topic...everyone has a right to live however they want, and people indeed say "just be who you are, and be happy".....but can you really be happy if the social stigmata and stereotype follows you everywhere? you yourself may feel fine and free dressing up like a girl when you are physically a boy, but what about the environment? your teachers, your friends, employees, acquaintances, others, etc, etc...what will they think?

its a controversial issue, but lets discuss~

About if they can be happy, yes, yes they can. Keep in mind, we ALL suffer from sexual prejudice and sexual discrimination nearly every day. Straight men, straight women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and so on. It does not matter. What matters is how we deal with it, and also how our parents treated us when we were growing up (this is a BIG factor btw)

Let's say someone did deny who they see themselves as. Would they be happy living a false life? I doubt it. Would it be easier to be accepted by others? Perhaps, but then that only feeds the problem and causes the prejudice to continue.

Let's just do a brief run down of prejudice that we all face based on gender, for the sake of comparison as this is very much related. Keep in mind, these are all made up by the society we live in, which is the main issue Keep in mind, some of this is in fact changing, albeit slowly.

Men: Expected to be working full time, expected to show as little emotion as possible however anger is expected. Must be independent, must play sports, must be "strong". Heaven forbid you like pink or light colors. Tend to have higher paying jobs and even making more money then women in the same job. God forbid you be a father who stays at home to take care of the kids while your wife works. God forbid you be a equal to your wife instead of being the dominant one

Women: Expected to be the nurturing one of the family, expected to be "emotional", expected to be dependent on others. Expected to cook dinner. Heaven forbid you like sports or other "manly" bull shit, tend to have lower paying jobs and/or being payed less then a man in the same job. God forbid you prefer "boy" stuff over things like Barbie or those disgusting Bratz dolls.

And that's just barely scratching the surface. Point is, sure, it would be easier for a transgender/gay/lesbian/bisexual kid to deny who they are when it comes to dealing with their peers and society as a whole. But would it feel right for them? No, it would not. Would it push that sexuality any closer to being accepted? No it would not. Could denying who they are do more harm then good for the person in general? Yes, it very likely would.

Gender norms are very much dependent upon the society in question. The only way for society to evolve is to push society away from old ideas and into new, more accepting ones. Just giving into society's idea of sexual norms will never change a damn thing.

Edit: Sorry if I kind if went off into a tangent............this is something I feel very strongly about.

Candyholic · 09-27-2011, 06:23 PM

Got two transgender friends~ Pretty much since they were REALLY young they've always felt like they were in the wrong body.
Pretty freaky, to be honest(that you can realize such things at a very young age).

kait0s · 09-27-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oisterboy

But really, we all know ourselves better than anyone else could ever know us.

This is all the shit you should ever know.

KREVA · 09-27-2011, 08:17 PM

Oh well. Kid is living the way he wants to live.

djfizzle · 09-27-2011, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozz8888

i feel like im in the wrong body. but i dont were female clothing. but still i can understand what its like to feel like the wrong gender.

ugaybro

idk me being heterosexual, that seems it would be so scary as a parent. I'm curious how that even happens... hmm interesting but odd to experience probably.

edit: idk how you guys could say such stereotypical things responding to this, yes they're true but im curious how you'd react to this guy being apart of your life... i guess there's no way the parents can change the kid, but like i said what goes on mentally for him to think like this...

SnOwBunZz · 09-27-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-Opolis

**** assholes...

I'm sure he/she wouldn't mind that.

09-27-2011, 04:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Oisterboy \| (• ◡•)\| (❍ᴥ❍ʋ) Join Date: May 2006 Location: Just Past Jupiter Posts: 16,560 Reputation: 644	I know this is a serious topic, but I find it funny because the only transgender person I know uses "Tammy" as his female name But really, we all know ourselves better than anyone else could ever know us. __________________

09-27-2011, 05:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Raiyne Feedbacker Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Middle of the Stairs Posts: 13,389 Reputation: 126	Glad that her parents did not suppress it. __________________ Everytime I post, I think Murph is about to BROFIST me. -- Loric Last.fm Hey Raiyne

09-27-2011, 06:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Candyholic OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: bel sverige Posts: 6,221 Reputation: 182	Got two transgender friends~ Pretty much since they were REALLY young they've always felt like they were in the wrong body. Pretty freaky, to be honest(that you can realize such things at a very young age). __________________

09-27-2011, 08:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
KREVA Illgamez Insomniac Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pallet Town Posts: 2,227 Reputation: 56	Oh well. Kid is living the way he wants to live. __________________

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09-27-2011, 04:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
ozz8888 Banned Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,198 Reputation: 28	i feel like im in the wrong body. but i dont were female clothing. but still i can understand what its like to feel like the wrong gender.