Community should support each other, embrace diversity

As the mother of a transgender child, I read with great interest the March 12th Reporter article “Trans student policies untouched.” I applaud the decision by the North Penn School District and other school districts to continue supporting transgender and gender nonconforming students by providing them with a safe environment to change clothes or use the restroom, training staff on issues related to transgender students and providing LGBT resources.

Since hearing my child’s decision to transition from female-to-male, I have become much more cognizant of the suffering experienced by the transgender community — suffering brought on by unsupportive families, suffering brought on by an uneducated and fearful society. I quickly realized that in order to be truly supportive of my son that I too needed to become better educated. My son eagerly suggested articles to get me up to speed, one excellent resource Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People Who Are Transgender and Gender Expansive published by PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People).

While on my quest to become better educated, I have come across some surprising statistics. Firstly, that over 1.4 million adults identify as transgender; over 43,000 in PA alone (Williams Institute 2016 report How Many Adults Identify as Transgender). Secondly, children as young as age 2 may show features that could indicate gender dysphoria [discomfort or distress that is caused by a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and that person’s sex assigned at birth; World Professional Association for Transgender Health]. Thirdly, that 76 percent of transgender students feel unsafe at school [GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey].

The safety of our youth was one of several topics raised at the Diversity Forum held by the North Penn School District last month. While I was there to advocate for transgender youth, I found comfort in knowing that the school district was interested in hearing what they were doing right, as well as what they could improve on, and whether or not our kids felt safe. I also left the meeting being more sympathetic to issues faced by adoptive parents, black Muslim parents and special needs parents.

As many sit in fear of what the future will bring, I encourage everyone to stand together as a community to help those who feel isolated whether due to race, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual identity or gender identity. Due to the kindness and support from my son’s close friends, family, teachers, and healthcare professionals, he has a new lease on life and is truly a much happier person living his life as a man. My wish by writing today is that families, friends and the community will reach out to individuals who feel isolated to help provide that same happiness. Nancy Sullivan