The Beautiful Daughter: How My Korean Mother Gave Me the Courage to Transition

[Shana A]

Andy Marra
Public Relations Manager, GLSEN

The Beautiful Daughter: How My Korean Mother Gave Me the Courage to Transition
Posted: 11/16/2012 9:02 am

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-marra/the-beautiful-daughter-how-my-korean-mother-gave-me-the-courage-to-transition_b_2139956.html

Growing up, I remember making a pact with myself. As an adopted child I promised to find my family in Korea, but how exactly that would occur remained a mystery to me. I luckily had the unconditional support of my American family, even if they were stumped by my vague plan.

I later came out as a trans woman in 2003. I was also fortunate enough to receive an outpouring of love, acceptance and support from family and friends.

But there was always one barrier to my life of intersecting identities that I struggled to overcome. I could never find the will to move forward with my transition -- taking hormones or surgery -- despite the opportunity to do so. And my hesitation was largely due to my unknown family living far away in Korea.

[MadelineB]

What an amazing, beautiful story. Family is everything in Korea, and I cried reading about this trans woman's reunion with her birth family there. What a miracle ensued when she followed her heart - and let her feelings show.

[barbie]

Yes. A moving and interesting story. However, the story is not so much surprising.

My family, colleagues and friends accept my crossdressing relatively well, although I am married and have kids.
Because of my kids, I do not plan any transition.

Barbie~~

[eshaver]

I think that is my primary reason for transitioning so late in life . As a previous poster said , "Family is everything ". I grew up in a religious family and believe me , they would have never accepted me and when they found my cross dressing , they really let my then wife know of their displeasure . I'm a parent myself . My son doesn't want me to dress but he knows of it . I have found a doctor to prescribe H R T . I don't flaunt my changes publicly, I'm at least at peace with myself . I'm not looking for drastic changes either , at my age . Still, my families needs come first ............... ellen