In a very challenging case for school officials, a 9 year old child (and of course the very accomodating parents) is asking to start dressing like a girl. The school decided to let the other 100 Third Grade families know about the “transition” in a meeting.
About one in 5,000 people is transgender, said Walter O. Bockting, a psychologist and coordinator for transgender health services at the University of Minnesota. Bockting said he sees about 10 children a year who are 9 or younger.
“It’s a little early, but occasionally that happens,” he said.
Not all transgender people have sex-reassignment surgery in adulthood, and such surgeries are not typically performed on children, said Sharon Garcia, president of TransYouth Family Allies, a non-profit group that helped the Chatham Park student and school officials devise a way to explain the situation to parents.
So far, 49 families have contacted TransYouth Family Allies asking for help with a transgender child, Garcia said. Most of the children are between 6 and 10.
See the complete article at http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/20080503_School_challenge__Transgender_student_is_age_9.html where the writer seems to avoid the tabloid topics and has done some pretty thoughtful research. For Children’s Ministries there is an opportunity to share how in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, Male nor Female, while at the same time demonstrating a love that transcends our gut response. We had the same polarizing discussions when AIDS/HIV was discovered among children (should we allow them to be in the same class, let’s have a well-child-policy) and now we are all pretty informed so we can be calm!
What do you think?
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Wow… that is a lot to think about! I like you mentioning getting past our gut reaction. I don’t know if there is an easy answer to the question of what to do. The beginning of that answer, though, is to approach the whole situation in love. God loves all of us, no matter what. We should do the same for everyone else and teach our children to do the same. I think we are too quick to cry, “Agenda! Their pushing their agenda! Circle the wagons!” It would be best to turn off that alarm, not react or try and fix but love and point people to Christ. We think we can change people before they make a commitment to Christ. We need to lead people to Christ, first! And then we can deal with transformation issues.
How do we approach the topic with our own kids? Well, as I do with any other issue that comes out of our fallenness, we teach our kids to love everyone no matter what because God does. I then help my children to understand that not everyone chooses to follow God’s plan for doing things and it is our job to love people the way God loves them and point them to a God who wants to be their forever friend and transform them so they can have an amazing life and so they can be a part of changing the world for the better. Then when they are following God, God can do the life transforming and they can start following God’s plan for their lives.
We can choose to be scared by stuff like this and declare that the sky is falling, or we can take these issues as an opportunity to reach the world around us in new and creative ways and teach our children how to love no matter what.
Comment by henryjz May 6, 2008 @ 2:55 pmI think on of the most vital parts of preaching isn’t telling us what the text is saying (we’re way past that unless you’re illiterate) but in urging people to DO “whatsoever I commanded you”! Urging, convincing and motivating takes courage and persistence. We shouldn’t shrink from topics like this but lead with love AND truth. Jesus came to seek and save not hide and watch-em-sink!
Comment by keithdj1 May 6, 2008 @ 3:48 pmHmmm. I think the only thing you could do is arm your children with the knowledge that they are to love and show grace to all, even those with whom we disagree.
Comment by Larry Shallenberger May 7, 2008 @ 7:48 pmThis post really caught my attention as a while back a mom called me asking for help and direction concerning her elementary child who is transgendered. He is now doing life as a girl and is as happy as a clam. I did direct her to some counselors in the area but I have to admit I’m looking for some direction on this one.
Comment by Patti Kirkland May 12, 2008 @ 8:48 pm