Posted on 05/30/2014 3:47:43 AM PDT by EinNYC
Proud parents from San Diego have shared their story of having a transgender son who became a boy aged just 5-years-old. Jeff and Hillary Whittington presented a touching video showing little Ryland's female-to-male transition as they were honored at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast last Thursday. The stirring footage revealed how Ryland suffered severe hearing problems when she was just 12-months-old and was fitted with cochlear implants.
"I am a boy," the long blonde haired toddler reportedly declared to her parents after the operation and learning to speak.
Despite her room being painted pink and being dressed in girly outfits, her parents said she preferred masculine toys and activities.
Confused as to what to do, the Whittingtons believed it was a phase that would soon pass. But, on turning five, Ryland started concretely rejecting all things feminine. "When the family dies, I will cut my hair so I could be a boy," Ryland reportedly told her parents, later adding: "Why did God make me like this?"
Jeff Whittington, a former firefighter-turned-real estate agent, and wife Hillary began researching the issue - and soon decided the answer was that their girl was transgender.
Terrified to learn about the high suicide rate associated with transgender people who feel socially unaccepted, they decided to properly embrace Ryland's identity.
"Ryland's gender identity was not caused by our parenting style, family structure or environmental factors," the couple stated in the 7-minute montage.
They cut off their infant's long hair, bought new clothes and started referring to Ryland as a male. His room was also redecorated.
The footage then showed Ryland playing soccer and baseball, wearing ties and dancing with a flower girl at a wedding reception.
"Relative to the horrific things people have to endure with their children all over the world, this is nothing," his parents added.
The video was played before the couple accepted the event's Inspiration Award, reports LGBT Weekly.
A short-haired Ryland, dressed in a smart suit, also took to the stage to say: "My name is Ryland Michael Whittington. I am a transgender kid."
Jeff Whittingon, speaking afterwards to the emotional 1,000-strong audience, claimed "one of the most inspiring things Harvey Milk had done" 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 said.
"This is our coming out [...] this is us making our voices heard," he added.
Uploaded to YouTube Tuesday, the video has already been seen more than 250,000 times.
I remember back in those days I would not wear shoes from the time school was out until it started again, except for very special occasions like church or a wedding or something. Yes, my horse stepped on my feet occasionally and the bottoms of my feet got to be like the sole of a shoe. LOL!
Never did I, or anyone else think that I was a boy.
Bravo. And this needs to be said more often.
Ding ding ding, we have a winner! In all these cases, the child's subjective experience, whatever it may be, is being narrated and programmed to accomplish something for the adults.
Thank you
It’s not either or. A person can be feminine and enjoy any other pursuit.
Likewise, a person can be masculine and enjoy say, home decorating or sewing (called tailors).
Relating to healing the physical body....
If you heal the physical body, the healing is temporary....
If you heal the soul, it heals the physical body and is permanent..... as long as the person does not go out and create another wound in the soul and reopen the wound.
I’ve never heard this. Got any links?
Apparently, the therapy mode is to pump the child with the opposite sex’s hormones, before puberty. Wonder if this is why G-d said don’t dress as the opposite sex.
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