I frequently listen to NPR, but a series they had recently stopped me dead in tracks. It's a two parter, the first one here and the second here for those to care to read/listen to it. For those who don't, here's the short(er) version:
1. First story: Bradley and Jonah, both born male, played and identified themselves exclusively with female gendered pursuits and identities. In both cases, parents did not initially see harm in the behavior, but eventually decided to involve a therapist once their children reached school age. Both therapists diagnosed Gender Identity Disorder. Bradley's parents took him to Dr. Ken Zucker, a therapist who believes that no child under 11-12 can make a true decision regarding their gender identity and that it is, essentially, a question of the environment they are placed in and the choices they are given. He recommends removing all female gendered toys and influences and clearly and firmly telling the child that certain toys and behaviors are not to be accepted. Jonah's parents went with Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, who considers that, if outside of the transposed gender the child is essentially happy, there is no harm in allowing them to identify and live out their gender of choice, and that it might even benefit their long-term mental health.
2. Second story: This one deals with hormone treatment for children with gender identity disorder. Basically the kids are given hormones to delay puberty, which have no significant side effects but basically act as a way to buy time while they decide if they really want to commit to their gender of choice. If they do, they are then given the chosen gender's hormones. In this way, they can avoid developing body hair/breasts/Adam's apple/large hands/hips or other traits that make it harder to live as their chosen gender. Although the hormones that delay puberty leave no lasting effects, the ones they take to change their gender into the opposite does render them infertile.
I was discussing this with Joph today over brunch and it occurred to me that it would be a heartwrenching choice for a parent to make either way, but it was crystal-clear to me what I would do and why. What would you do?