as small as a world and as large as alone, askatranswoman: Tumblr, I need your help. ...

9:25pm September 16, 2014

Tumblr, I need your help.

There’s a trans boy who has the opportunity to go through puberty the right way. His name is Peter (last name retracted for legal reasons) and he’s just a kid who needs your help.

Here’s a quote from his mom:

All of Peter’s friends, their parents, and his teachers have been completely supportive. They immediately started using his chosen name, and have adjusted to the male pronouns.

My son Peter loves animals, the outdoors, drawing, and playing his violin. He loves his momma and sisters and does his best to follow our family motto: be kind, be honest, be positive.

The exception to this supportive environment has been his father and stepmother. In the last seven years (since our divorce) they have only been minimally involved in Peter’s life. They have chosen to play no part in important decisions, even in emergency situations. Until now. After learning of Peter’s gender identity status they have begun to insert themselves in Peter’s life. They refuse to acknowledge his doctor’s diagnosis of gender dysphoria. They continue to force him to dress as a girl and answer to his female birth name.

I love my children with all of my heart. It is excruciating to watch my happy, confident son leave for visitation with his father and come home sad and withdrawn. Peter has already been hospitilized once for anxiety and depression. I am afraid the situation will only get worse as Peter ages. Especially if going through puberty as the wrong gender becomes a reality.

It is imperative that I get sole custody. I need to be able to make medical decisions in Peter’s best interest and help him legally change his name. I want to help Peter grow from a wonderful little boy to a wonderful young man.

Tumblr, we can help.

Go to this link.

I can speak from first-hand experience that knowing you are trans, and knowing your family won’t accept you, can be traumatic. This kid has balls I didn’t have at his age and I was born with them. Knowing how fast we can spread things, how little donations from a lot of people will help - please spread this. Spread it like wildfire.

If you’re still not convinced, I’ve talked with his mom one on one. Here’s what she had to say about her son:

i have been in touch with many advocacy group~~none of them can get involved in family law cases.

peter has a wonderful counselor who he loves. we see the counselor once a week. he feels so much more empowered now and that is great!

peter is a wonderful wonderful kid. always has been. so much happier now. he does not want to return to his old school. there are not a lot of choices in public schools where we live. there is a french immersion school. he has taught himself french on the computer through the duo lingo site. he is extremely intelligent and attends gifted classes at his current school.

This kid TAUGHT HIMSELF ANOTHER LANGUAGE to try and dig himself out of his current situation. If that isn’t the definition of “I need help, this situation isn’t ok,” I don’t know what is.

Let’s help him.