PARENTS of transgender or gender-questioning children can share their stories and access support from a new Working It Out parent group that will help them help their children live happy lives. New South Wales parents of transgender children Elaine* and Lisa* were in the state this week to share their experiences of the gender transition journeys they have taken with their children, and to promote parent support groups. They explained that a transgender person finds that the gender of their body doesn't align with the gender of their brain, and they don't feel right, and it often becomes unbearable. Elaine said without her attendance at such a group, it would have been difficult for her family. "It can be quite an isolating situation when your child identifies as gender questioning," she said. "Some people might have known something was a little different, for others it may have been a sudden shock when their child tells them, but often parents don't have any understanding of transgender or gender questioning issues, and what the treatments might be," she said. "You still hear of kids who are thrown out of home. We just want to get the message out that if this is happening in your household don't be frightened to come forward, get in contact, and Working It Out will put you in contact with support. "If parents are supported it is easier for the children." Lisa has a son who is transman, who began questioning his gender at age 15. "It is more acceptable for a female to be a tom boy so a lot of the time it goes unquestioned, but in puberty things became awkward and uncomfortable," she said. "He progressed thinking that perhaps he was a lesbian, but that wasn't it, and when he discovered it was gender we met a GP and started on the journey of gathering information. "He transitioned in year 10, the school had training, the staff and teachers were fantastic, and it has been a slow progression from there." Lisa said some parents experienced something a bit like grief. "It is not the fact that they are losing a child, but that they are losing what they expected for that child, which is a happy, healthy and easy path without hardships."
Working It Out chief executive Susan Ditter says support is available for the parents of transgender or gender-questioning children.
PARENTS of transgender or gender-questioning children can share their stories and access support from a new Working It Out parent group that will help them help their children live happy lives.
New South Wales parents of transgender children Elaine* and Lisa* were in the state this week to share their experiences of the gender transition journeys they have taken with their children, and to promote parent support groups.
They explained that a transgender person finds that the gender of their body doesn't align with the gender of their brain, and they don't feel right, and it often becomes unbearable.
Elaine said without her attendance at such a group, it would have been difficult for her family.
"It can be quite an isolating situation when your child identifies as gender questioning," she said.
"Some people might have known something was a little different, for others it may have been a sudden shock when their child tells them, but often parents don't have any understanding of transgender or gender questioning issues, and what the treatments might be," she said.
"You still hear of kids who are thrown out of home. We just want to get the message out that if this is happening in your household don't be frightened to come forward, get in contact, and Working It Out will put you in contact with support.
"If parents are supported it is easier for the children."
Lisa has a son who is transman, who began questioning his gender at age 15.
"It is more acceptable for a female to be a tom boy so a lot of the time it goes unquestioned, but in puberty things became awkward and uncomfortable," she said.
"He progressed thinking that perhaps he was a lesbian, but that wasn't it, and when he discovered it was gender we met a GP and started on the journey of gathering information.
"He transitioned in year 10, the school had training, the staff and teachers were fantastic, and it has been a slow progression from there."
Lisa said some parents experienced something a bit like grief.
"It is not the fact that they are losing a child, but that they are losing what they expected for that child, which is a happy, healthy and easy path without hardships."
For information on the Working It Out support groups contact Lucy Shannon on 0438 346 122 or email north@workingitout.org.au.
