OK the reporter had difficulty in hiding her predjudice !
But 12 years old is still way, way too young to give a child approval for social gender change as it kind of makes his / her future life & gender pre-determined .... and how many "tomboy" girls find happiness in their female gender post the trauma and sexual affirmation of female puberty ? Guess we're looking at 5 - 10% of the female population .....
Knee jerk reactions from the TS members here are understandable, but we need to understand that we are not typical (for example most effeminate boy children grow up to be well adjusted men, maybe even only 60 - 70% gay) ....
Sure its difficult, but with the exception of very special circumstance I'd say wait till sixteen, allow the child freedom of gender expression, but don't guide the child at 12 along a road that pre-deternines a transsexual future with all its negatives (infertility, lifelong medication, social rejection, finding partner difficulties) .....
Laura :-(