apparao123 Posted May 30, 2014 Report Posted May 30, 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHCqnux2fk
apparao123 Posted May 30, 2014 Author Report Posted May 30, 2014 When Jeff and Hillary Whittington, of San Diego, got the news in 2007 that they were having a daughter, the couple had no idea that in a few years' time they will be raising a son instead. Last Thursday, the family were honored at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, accepting the Inspiration Award after presenting a stirring video showing their daughter Ryland's female-to-male transition. The six-year-old dressed in a smart suit and tie, his hair cut short, stood next to a podium and read his prepared remarks from a sheet of paper, declaring to the audience: 'My name is Ryland Whittington. I am transgender kid.' Scroll down for video +19 Pretty in pink: Ryland Whittington was born biologically a girl in 2008 +19 Fit for a princess: Knowing they were having a daughter, the family decorated Ryland's room in pastel colors +19 +19 First curveball: At age one, the Whittingtons discovered that little Ryland was born deaf The family's beautifully produced video, which so far has been viewed on YouTube nearly 100,000 times, details how little Ryland and his parents came to embrace his true gender identity. For the Whittingtons, the first curveball came when they discovered that Ryland, then aged one, was born with a severe hearing impairment. The parents were heartbroken, but thanks to cochlear implants their little girl was able to communicate. More... 'I swallowed a bottle of pills': Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox attempted suicide at 11 due to school bullies Why I finally let my son buy a dress: Father's moving story about coming to terms with his five-year-old's true identity Boy, 17, wins PROM QUEEN at his high school and seeks to 'stop the hate and start the love' as he works to promote tolerance and acceptance for LGBT peers Not long after learning to speak, Ryland declared to her parents: 'I am a boy.' Even though the toddler lived in a room painted pink, sported long blonde hair and was dressed by her parents in girly outfits, she naturally gravitated toward everything masculine. At first, Jeff Whittington, a former firefighter-turned-real estate agent, and his wife, ignored the signs, thinking that Ryland was just a tomboy, or that it was a phase that soon will pass. +19 Tomboy: The toddler, seen here dressed as Spider Man, soon started rejecting everything feminine +19 +19 Struggle: The little girl desperately wanted to cut her long blonde hair short and declared she was a boy +19 Denial: The parents' friends and family told them Ryland was just a tomboy, or that it was a phase for her +19 +19 Truth comes out: Through consultation with experts and their own research, the San Diego parents came to the realization that daughter was actually a boy But by the time Ryland turned five, she started actively rejecting everything feminine and soon was overwhelmed with a sense of shame. 'When the family dies, I will cut my hair so I could be a boy,' Ryland had told her parents on one occasion. Another time, the child exclaimed in anguish: 'Why did god make me like this?' The Whittingtons sought professional help and began researching the topic of childhood gender identity on their own. There was only one obvious answer: their sweet little girl was transgender. Jeff and Hillary, who also have a younger daughter, were frightened to learn from a recently study that 41 per cent of transgender people have attempted suicide due to lack of societal acceptance. +19 Ryland was allowed to cut his hair +19 +19 All-American boy: Ryland, now 6, loves playing soccer (left) and baseball (right) +19 +19 Not everyone's on board: When the Whittingtons broke the news of their daughter's transition to their extended family, some relatives turned their backs on them +19 Words matter: The Whittingtons got into the habit of referring to their daughter 'he' and 'him' Determined to prevent their child from becoming a statistic, the Whittingtons decided to wholeheartedly embrace Ryland's true identity. The parents cut the toddler's blonde locks, bought a new masculine wardrobe and started using the male pronounces 'he' and 'him' when referring to Ryland. They also redecorated his room, doing away with pink furniture and bedding to make Ryland feel more comfortable. As they continued acquainting themselves with their new reality, the Whittingtons learned from experts that children's gender identity emerges between the ages of 3 and 5. 'Ryland's gender identity was not caused by our parenting style, family structure or environmental factors,' the couple stated in a slide featured in their family video. +19 New normal: Ryland dressed in a suit pictured dancing with a flower girl at a recent wedding reception +19 Born that way: The couple, who also have a younger daughter (pictured) wrote that Ryland's gender identity was not affected by their parenting style or other outside factors +19 Uplifting tale: Last Thursday, the family were honored at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, accepting the Inspiration Award The seven-minute clip celebrating the family's incredible, and at times difficult journey, shows Ryland happily playing baseball and soccer, wearing ties and even dancing with a little flower girl at a wedding reception. 'Relative to the horrific things that people have to endure with their children all over the world, this is nothing,' his parents wrote. Many members of the audience at the Harvey Milk Breakfast who watched the touching clip had tears in their eyes following the Whittingtons’ emotional presentation, LGBT Weekly reported. ‘One of the most inspiring things that Harvey Milk had done as far as our family is concerned,’ said Jeff Whittington, ‘was to encourage people to come out; to let their voices be heard; break down the walls, break down the barriers and start allowing people to see them for their authentic selves and be true to themselves. He added, ‘This is our coming out … this is us making our voices heard.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2643231/When-family-dies-I-cut-hair-I-boy-Parents-share-story-having-transgender-child-let-change-gender-aged-just-FIVE.html#ixzz33D87ATDe Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Idly Vishwanatham Posted May 30, 2014 Report Posted May 30, 2014 I think you posted the same thread 3 times
ravana Posted May 30, 2014 Report Posted May 30, 2014 GP Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard -- Harvey Milk ()>> ()>> ()>>
Recommended Posts