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Kim Pearson - May 20, 2009 / 7:30 p.m.
“Difference Isn’t Wrong. It Just is... .”
Supporting Trans Youth and Their Families
The boy who likes to play with dolls. The girl who won’t wear a dress. What do these non-gender conforming behaviors mean? And what about the children who insists on living as the gender opposite to their assigned birth sex? Kim Pearson has heard it all. In fact, she has lived it. By the time her fourteen year old lesbian daughter told Kim she wanted to transition, Kim had years of experience dealing with a gender-variant child. She took action, and the TransYouth Family Allies was founded.
According to Kim, Some of gender non-conforming behaviors are transient and exploratory, children playing with gender roles that culture has established. Other children consistently, persistently and acutely identify with the gender opposite of their birth sex. Some children, over the course of months leading into years, express this cross gender identification to their parent(s). These children, if not given the opportunity to express their gender identity, may be so distressed that they resort to self-harm or even suicide.
Both in school and in the healthcare system, these young people may be mistreated—bullied, mocked, threatened, forced into conformity with societal expectations. Their parents often feel a range of emotions and confusion about ways to best help their children.
TYFA is an organization whose mission is to provide support, education, advocacy and resources for parents of gender variant children and the service providers and educators who deal with them. Today, TYFA board members travel throughout the country, speaking at colleges and universities, professional associations, medical schools and other venues, creating a supportive climate where gender identity can be expressed freely and safely.
Kim Pearson is Executive Director/Co-Founder of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA) and National Board President of PFLAG-TNET. She first directed her energy into GLBT support, advocacy and education as the founder and president of her local PFLAG Chapter when the youngest of her three children came out as lesbian in 2005. Eighteen months later she found herself facilitating that same child's transition to living life as a young man. In its short history TYFA has provided support to over 100 families, and training to hundreds of GLBT organizations, service professionals and government officials all over the United States. TYFA and their families have been featured on several local/national radio programs, national/regional television and numerous print articles.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
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