Family

"In The Life", an LGBT newsmagazine on public television is looking for potential subjects for a segment about the FTM transitioning process. This documentary-style segment would be produced with sensitivity, and would explore how the transitioning process is affecting an individual's partner, family, friends and perhaps, their children.

The Children's National Medical Center through their Outreach Program for Children with Gender-Variant Behaviors and their Families has published a booklet.

Even though this booklet is primarily geared to parents with young children, several of the issues it addresses pertain to older children as well. Every parent, teacher, social worker... anyone who works with children should read it.

Some pearls of wisdom inside:

Question traditional assumptions.
Do not automatically accept traditional
assumptions about social gender roles and sexual orientation. Learn to separate society’s judgments from the love you have for your child. Do not let other people’s critical opinions of what is right and wrong come between you and your child.

Examine your feelings and learn to accept your child.
You and other family members may feel uncomfortable and ashamed of your child’s interests and behaviors. This is common early on. Take time to figure out where your feelings are coming from. You may have to adjust your dreams of how you expected parenting and your family to be.