Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
REARING SET TO SPARK BACKLASH
BY SUNDAY MIRROR AGONY AUNT BY UK’S YOUNGEST TRANSGENDER PATIENT AT 15
OUR FLUID FAMILY Star, 4 with his mum Louise, left, and ‘Da-da’ Nikki PLAY TIME Star enjoys dolls and cars OUT AND ABOUT Family stroll in park
SHOOTING STAR LOCKS GOOD Louise styles Star’s long hair I AM shocking myself here but I actually think this is wonderful, even if not for everyone. What most impresses me is what great parents this couple are.
Having had complex back-stories themselves, they have really thought about how to raise Star responsibly, without often sinister gender stereotyping.
The pink and blue thing has always offended me. One of my sons once asked for a play ironing board for Christmas because he really liked the one at his nursery. I went ahead and got him one.
I applaud letting your kids do their own thing. Just one worry: Could raising a kid as “gender fluid” actually be gender denial? As a girl and then a woman, I have always embraced my femininity. One’s gender can be something worth celebrating but only if you feel happy with it. Plus kids need to fit in with their peers. Will Star ever? SOME people assume I would agree with gender fluidity but I think what the parents are doing amounts to abuse. It is very confusing for a child to be told they are neither a boy nor a girl. If your baby is born a boy but you’re telling him he’s gender fluid you risk making him think there is something wrong with being a boy or with being a girl.
You know if you are born female or male. Every child should know that. I certainly knew.
If you come to the realisation on your own that you’re transgender and you want to transition then parents should be supportive.
But to bring a child up as gender fluid just because of your own gender issues is selfish.
It’s one thing to be liberal and to let your child be themselves if they say they feel in the wrong body, but you’re confusing your child by suggesting that it’s normal for gender to be a choice.