Posted by Lithmick at 63.121.103.155 on February 26, 2004 at 10:38:30:
In Reply to: SeriousPoll based on 60 minutes last night posted by Paul U on February 26, 2004 at 09:27:23:
: Not even from a parents point of view but that is where I am coming from...
: on a segment of 60 minutes last night they were talking of transgenders. The most disturbing one was of an 11 y/o girl who wants to be a boy. She claims to have only boy thoughts and want boy things. Toys, cars, haircut etc. Not only was the mother acknoledging this but perpetuating this girls want to become a boy by taking her to a doctor and being psychologically tested to determine if she should take hormone shots since no Dr. will do the surgery (thank god). To add to it, the mother, not once referred to her daughter as SHE, every reference was HE.
: Now my questions are.
: 1. Would you even humor your kid in this idea to change sexes?
Humor seems too light a word for this. I would try to support my kid in whatever decision they needed to make.
: 2. If you humored the idea would you go as far as allowing hormone thereapy?
Not unless they have spent some serious time with a qualified therapist who has experience with such issues. I know I won't have those parenting skills. And, not until they were past puberty, I don't think - and even then some years after that. While it's unfortunate that during what is already a pretty crazy times in a kid's life, this particular child is going through something worse, I just don't think anyone under 18 is ready to make this decision yet, you know? And maybe not even at 18.
: 3. How old do you think a person is capable of making the transgender decision?
See above.