Diana and Joy share how they are experiencing recent anti-trans legislation.  Efforts underway include: 1) bans on affirming healthcare for transgender youth, 2) the Texas governor’s order to investigate gender-affirming care (and parenting) as possible child abuse.  Listen as we voice our vulnerability and concerns.

This was recorded prior to courts halting the order in Texas. Thank you ACLU and Lambda Legal!  Check out the Texas legislation tracker for more details here:  https://www.equalitytexas.org/legislative-bill-tracker/

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In this episode, we discuss some of the initial questions we were asked when our children transitioned. By reflecting, we look at the reasons and meanings that may be behind the questions. Our hope is to learn, and never to judge. 

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In this episode, Diana and Joy explore the distinction between privacy and secrecy, and the concepts of shame vs. empowerment.  We grapple with the question of our role in our children’s choice to be undisclosed, and we explore whether our focus on safety negatively influenced their sense of self.  Join us to hear more about our perspective on the risk of disclosure, and our belief that it’s our children’s right to decide who knows their story.

Episode 19 references two books

• Calvin by Vanessa Ford, J.R. Ford, Ronald Martin Ford
• Sissy: A Coming of Gender Story by Jacob Tobia   

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If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Join Diana and Joy as we explore privacy boundaries to support our children of trans-experience; in this episode we reflect on how we set expectations that siblings are not to talk about or mention anything related to their brother or sister being transgender. We distinguish between talking openly within the family about our transgender children’s transition and require confidentiality outside of the family.  We grapple with age considerations and hold a belief around the importance of allowing our transgender children to determine if and when they want to tell their story. We also explore consequences and Joy shares her and her husband Hugh’s approach to a challenging situation with Samantha’s twin brother Bobby.

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If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

In episode 17 we explore how cosmetics (makeup and nails) have been part of both of our children's journeys. We also explore our own feelings around this aspect of our child's journey, and get curious about how our emotions and experience were impacted by the fact that they are children of trans-experience.

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If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

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Diana shares her experience of talking with educators about using non-binary language.  Joy and Diana both express the challenge in learning and building new habits, and the importance of inclusive language expression.  

Gendered language is very often habitual; we discuss how it can perpetuate inaccurate assumptions and how conscious use of language is essential for identity validation.  Listen in for tips - the first step is awareness and the second step is continuous practice!   

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If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

In Episode 15, we explore the role that hair played in our children’s journey of living their true self. 

Of note, the definition of “gender expression” is “the external ways in which a person expresses their gender identity to the world, such as through their behavior, emotions, style of dress, hairstyle, makeup, interests, or choice of toys, colors, or activities“ (from https://transfamilies.org/a-gender-foundation/ 6/28/21).

Also, the organization mentioned in this podcast is Strands for Trans. They can be found via https://www.strandsfortrans.com/. 

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to  provide us a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Join Diana and Joy in exploring their experience of loneliness on the journey of supporting their children.  In episode 14, we come to greater self-awareness regarding a sense of space and place, specifically recognizing how essential the experience of community is for us in feeling supported.

Episode 14 references the movie Boys Don’t Cry (1999).  This article summarizes the divisive legacy of the movie, which some believe offers landmark representation while others believe it to be distressingly exploitative: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/movies/boys-dont-cry-anniversary.html

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or  take a moment to  provide us a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at  [email protected].

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

In episode 13, Diana and Joy share their experience navigating holiday cards after transition.  We share the thoughts and considerations that went into our decisions, and Joy reads an excerpt from her family’s first holiday card following Samantha’s transition.  

The discussion naturally extends to family photos on display in the home, and we explore the thoughts and feelings surrounding decisions to keep up or take down photos taken prior to transition.   

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or  take a moment to  provide us a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at  [email protected].

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Joy shares details from Samantha’s most recent Endocrine Clinic visit, in which they seek to understand what is needed to prepare Samantha for feminizing hormone therapy.  The intent is to avoid male secondary sex characteristics (e.g., increased body hair, changes in voice pitch, etc.). Feminizing hormone therapy is also known as gender-affirming hormone therapy. 

If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or  take a moment to  provide us a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

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If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].