Meet Josie, 9: No secret she's transgender

[Butterfly]

Meet Josie, 9: No secret she's transgender
Arizona Daily Star
By Stephanie Innes
25 July, 2010


http://azstarnet.com/news/science/health-med-fit/article_62e8719b-5b8d-5f99-80f3-71f00a41c334.html


Josie Claudine Romero was born Joseph Manalang Romero in Colorado in April 2001. Her twin sister died shortly after being born. Though biologically male, "Joey" was diagnosed with a condition called gender identity disorder at the age of 5 by a U.S. military doctor in Japan, where the family was living.

By age 6, Joey was Josie.

Family goes public

No one knows how many transgender children exist.

Seven children under the age of 12 attend an informal group of Tucson-area "gender-variant" children Josie's mother organizes. Some of the kids consider themselves transgender and, like Josie, are living as the opposite sex. Others don't feel comfortable with traditional gender norms and labels.

Josie is unique not only because she transitioned from being biologically male to identifying as female at such a young age, but because she and her family are so public about it. The family has appeared on the National Geographic Channel, on the "The Tyra Banks Show" and in a British documentary. Josie does some public speaking to other transgender kids and their families.

[spacial]

I can't begin to say how happy I am for this little girl, that she has such intelegent and caring parents.