Fearing for my black, transgender child's life

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/parenting-a-transgender-child/2015/09/01/515987ea-4cc8-11e5-bfb9-9736d04fc8e4_story.html


Washington Post/By Louis Porter II September 1 at 7:53 PM

"Even when my child was an infant, I had a premonition that our precious baby girl was going to throw some curveballs our way. Something in this long-awaited baby's spirit let me know that a wild ride was ahead for my wife and me.

So, several years ago when my then-middle school kid came out as queer, I was caught off guard, but it was news I could handle. "Your daddy's love comes with a lifetime guarantee," I said, paraphrasing a song sung by Sade, a generation-bridging family favorite. Then, as a native of the South steeped in black-middle-class tradition, I said: "I wonder if they'll still let you be a debutante." We both immediately laughed that hearty, authentic family chuckle that eases tensions."