Mother of transgender child shares her family's journey
By Kergan Edwards-Stout
Filed: Sunday, September 9, 2012http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/09/mother-of-trangender-child-shares-her-familys-journey/
Danann Tyler, backstage with Anderson Cooper.Living in conservative Orange County, Calif., and being gay men with children, it was important that my partner and I find a church family where every single person is welcome, which we found at Church of the Foothills.
Sarah Tyler graciously took time to share with me the journey her family has traveled, including not only the many challenges they've faced, but also the joyful child the transition from male to female eventually revealed.
Sarah: When it's your child being mistreated, simply for being different, it's easy to become an advocate.
Sarah: One morning, we were getting ready to go to church, and Danann said she didn't want to go. I asked why, and he said, "I don't think God is that great. He made a mistake when he made me," and pointed to his penis.
Sarah: We went on vacation, to a friend's house in Hawaii, and let Danann present as female. The housekeeper there took her first look at Danann and James and said, "I thought you had two boys," and before I could even answer, she said, "Oh... Two-Spirit. I get it. You're very lucky."
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Sarah Tyler is the founder of an organization providing support to parents of transgender children. It is called "Shift Happens". Link:
http://www.shifthappensoc.org/welcome.htmThe family are featured in the new documentary "Trans":
http://www.transthemovie.com/-Madeline
