I saw a program on TV last night which reported on the story of an eight year old girl who was genetically born a boy and who lived with her parenta in Tuscon, Arizona. It told of her desire at a very early age to be the girl she felt she was, to dress as a girl and be treated as such. It is not unusual for very young children to be aware of their gender dysphoria even though they don’t understand what it is. They instinctively know that there is something wrong and that they should be the opposite gender than that which they are assumed to be. I know this to be true because the same was my experience. The difference is that this young girl has very understanding parents who have realised the psychological pressure their daughter was going through when she was being treated as a boy and took the steps to ensure that she is now treated as the girl she really is. When she reaches puberty or rather just before then she will be better able to decide whether she wants to continue into womanhood or not. She has the support of her doctors and she will commence testosterone blocking drugs at the right time until she is old enough to start hormone treatment and have GRS (Gender re-assignment surgery). It is a sad fact that many children go through their lives with this condition without the support or understanding of those around them and have to wait until they are adults before any action can be taken. By then it has become more difficult in many ways. I applaud this young girl’s parents for realising their child’s needs and acting in a proper way toward her. I feel the whole subject of transsexualism should be taught in schools for many of today’s adult population have no understanding of a condition that many among them suffer.
Shirley Anne
