UK’s first trans family where dad was born a woman and his little girl used to be a boy
BRITAIN’S first transgender family has a father who started his life as a woman and a five-year-old daughter who was born a boy.
But despite Greg Rogers transitioning from being a woman at the age of 16 he insists the last thing he wanted was for daughter Jayden to go through the same thing.
Mr Rogers later underwent a double mastectomy but never had full gender reassignment surgery.
The 27-year-old met his partner Jody Rogers online just over two years ago and together they are now raising her daughter Jayden. Despite being born a boy Jayden has begun to dress in girl’s clothing and refers to herself as ‘she’.
The family say they have been abused by local people and online trolls and disclosed that worried social workers advised them to move from their home in Shotts, Lanarkshire.
However, Mr Rogers said his daughter’s gender change is not something he would have chosen. He added: ‘We haven’t encouraged Jayden to do this, despite what people think, and we are hurt at the suggestion.
‘She has no idea that I am transgender. Having been through this myself, I have conflicting emotions about her deciding she doesn’t want to be a boy any more.
‘It’s not an easy life, people will always judge you. We can’t fix society but we can help Jayden to be happy with who she is. We don’t encourage it. It is not something I would have chosen for myself and certainly not something I would choose for my child, but she is so much happier now.’
The couple, who are not married but share a surname, said they first thought their son’s interest in being a girl was ‘just a phase which would pass’. But from the age of four they gave Jayden the option of wearing boys or girl’s clothes.
North Lanarkshire Council social services became involved when a neighbour raised the alarm after seeing Jayden in the latter, accusing them of child abuse. Mr Rog- ers said: ‘Social workers can see Jayden is well looked after and have no concerns other than to suggest we consider moving home because of prejudice from some people in the area.
‘But we are refusing to move as the vast majority of our community are supportive.’
He added: ‘It shouldn’t be an issue any more. When I transitioned at 16, I was rejected by my parents and had to live with my grandmother. I tried to fight my feelings, but I wasn’t gay, I just knew I was in the wrong body.
‘I went through horrific amounts of abuse and was beaten up in the street, so I would never abandon a child in a similar situation. We tell Jayden it is fine to be different and it is other people who have the problem, not her.’
Born with partial deafness, Jayden began to speak later than his classmates. It was only after surgery to correct the problem 11 months ago that Jayden began to demand to be labelled a girl.
Miss Rogers, 21, said she initially ignored her child’s plea but later accepted Jayden’s wishes.
She said: ‘I was naive. I didn’t think a child could be transgender and it isn’t until now, after speaking to other parents in our situation, that we realise it is more common than everyone thinks.
‘I had a son one moment and a daughter the next. It took me six months to start accepting that it was what Jayden really wanted.
‘It’s been a grieving process for me though. I do miss having a son and as a baby Jayden looked so much like a boy.’
The couple bought male and female school uniforms and every day allow Jayden to choose. She always chooses female clothing.
The family were in touch with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to have Jayden assessed but were told she does not have mental health issues.
Jayden is on the waiting list for the Young People’s Gender Service at Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow and will receive counselling over the next few years.
Mr Rogers said: ‘We don’t want a child suffering from mental health problems because she’s been told she can’t be who she wants to be.
‘Whatever the outcome we will support her through it.’
‘She is so much happier now’