We chose to move to Georgia for educational and career opportunities after living abroad for 10 years. We made our decision even though we have no family in Georgia and had never spent time in the South. We had only been living in Georgia for about 6 months when our then 12-year-old child (assigned male at birth) told us she was trans. Our daughter had been displaying ever-increasing signs of depression and social anxiety for several years before she came out to us. As puberty began in earnest, she became even more withdrawn. We worried, we talked, we wondered. When we learned of her trans identity, we were relieved to discover that her trauma and discomfort had a cause (gender dysphoria) that could be addressed with therapy and medical treatment. Professional evaluation, not a medical intervention, was our first step. With the help of other parents of transgender kids at PFLAG and other support groups, we found a doctor who specialized in medical care for transgender minors. Over
I am outraged at the statement by the VCPA sponsor that allowing a doctor to prescribe testosterone, an FDA-approved medication, for my 15-year-old child is child abuse. Having grown up in an abusive household, I know the difference between acceptance and abuse. Prior to being prescribed testosterone, my child was depressed, lonely, and always questioning themselves. They never felt in their right place in the body and they contemplated self-harm. Since beginning testosterone injections, my child is happy, talkative, and more confident in their interactions with family, friends, and classmates. They no longer contemplate self-harm and are not depressed. The difference has been like day and night, from sadness to joy. This is love, not abuse. As a parent, I am supposed to provide for my child, to help keep him safe and allow him to be his best self. Parents will not sit idly by and let the state substitute its judgment for that of the child, parent, and medical professionals provi