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Lisa’s Story

Lisa’s Story

My name is Lisa, I have two children, the youngest being a 19 year old transman.

I had suspected my child was transgender from an early age, the signs were small but enough to concern me. I became more concerned as my child approached puberty, I had the talk, “You know your body is going to change, are you ok with that?”. I even taped an Oprah show on trans kids and showed my child to see if that sparked any conversation, but no, it didn’t. Puberty was early, around 11 years of age and awkward. By the age of 14, my child came out as lesbian. I remember that conversation well because of my stupid response, “Oh thank goodness. I thought you were going to ask for a penis”. I was thinking being lesbian is easier than being transgender.

1 year later, that stupid statement came back to bite me when my child told me that the issue was indeed gender. Even though I had suspected it for years, I still went into panic, he was about to start year 10 and I felt that transition would be easier after school, if I could just hold him off it would be safer. Not much was said and I sort of just sat on it for about 6 months. I ended up with a very unhappy child. He did all the research online as to what to do and where to go, came to us with the information, and so the journey began.

I was so weighed down by fear in the beginning, it was hard to function. My husband seemed to have a better grip on it than me but his mind didn’t think as much about the negative things that occupied mine, “will my child be

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A Principal’s Story

Written by a primary school principal in Tasmania, 2015:

Ensuring our school is inclusive : The experience of one primary school.

As an inclusive school our student’s transition from male to female has not been a big issue.

Our school values of Community, Acceptance and Respect ensured that she is accepted for who she is and she is included in all aspects of school.  She uses the female toilets, (I was prepared for some opposition to this and have had none at all) and is accepted as a female by all students, staff and their families.

Open and honest communication between school and the family leading up to and during the transition period was essential.   Through reading, watching YouTube clips and documentaries and talking with staff at Working It Out (Our local Safe School’s Coalition service provider) I gained a better understanding of some of the issues our student and our community might face.  So together we brainstormed solutions to likely issues. Not one of those or any other issues have arisen.

On the first day of the year we had a 3 hour Professional Learning session run by staff from Working It Out. Our whole staff attended, (Office, Facility Attendants, Teacher Assistants and Teachers) that includes all part time and full time people.  We paid for part timers to attend if it wasn’t their work day. Some of our regular relief teachers attended in their own time.  It gave everyone the opportunity to receive the same information, ask any questions including sensitive questions, and have a common understanding and a common language.  At the end of the session everyone felt that they would be able to respond to comments or questions from children or adults.

Including a student who is transgender has not been an issue for our school …

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Efro’s Story

Well, it was on my 16th wedding anniversary,  that I decided (with Skyler’s blessing) to inform my parents about their eldest grandchild. So I rang them and when I spoke to my dad he as always wished me a happy “university”… I said it feels like I have been in university lately as I am learning something new everyday..

We had a laugh then I asked to speak to my mum, because telling her is going to be so much easier than telling my old fashion father who came to Australia from Cyprus when he was 21 years old.

So with my mum on the phone, and tell her she better sit down, and then I begin to explain about her eldest grandchild, my son Nathan who is 15 and as everyone in our family has known has been battling with anxiety and depression on and off for the past 5 years, which has lead to a sleep disorder and not be able to attend mainstream school for the past 2 years. Seeing his psychology regularly, we have been through the anger, smashing of windows, knives pointed at us, suicidal thoughts or thoughts of killing everyone else, it has been a rough few years but lately it seems it has calmed a bit with lots of help from his psychologist.

A few months ago, (October 2014) Nathan wanted to see his psychologist without me which I thought was great showing he is growing up dealing with his psychologist on his own etc. anyway my parents and family knew all this, what my mum didn’t know was that a month ago, after confiding in his psychologist Nathan informed me that he also felt like a girl, that he is transgender, and wants to be able to dress like one, he then …

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