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 (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.
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.
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~~
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