Brought to you by PrideVMC Gold partner VCA Animal Hospitals
by Rachelle Turner, LVT (she, her)
Being the parent of a transgender child is both a privilege and a responsibility. Being the parent of a transgender child has opened my eyes up to the critical importance our voices have at the local level in creating and supporting policies that impact their mental and physical health.
After my child came out, I searched social media and the internet to find resources to support him (and myself) in this journey. Several national organizations are available to help parents and kids, and I encourage you to explore them whether it’s to strengthen your awareness as an ally, or to expand resources available to anyone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- PFLAG – founded in 1973, PFLAG works to ensure LGBTQ+ people everywhere are safe, celebrated and loved. www.PFLAG.org
- Mama Bears – a network of moms dedicated to providing support, education, and empowering families with LGBTQ+ members. www.realmamabears.org
- The Trevor Project – 24/7 mental health and counseling for LGBTQ+ youth. My kid has this number saved in their phone for emergencies. www.thetrevorproject.org
I also recommend searching your area for local groups that provide advocacy, support, and education for families. Locally, we have the Nevada Alliance for Student Diversity, Pride Tree, and the LGBTQIA+ Community Center of Southern Nevada. Between these organizations, we have attended meetups with other gender diverse and LGBTQ+ kids in his age range. There have also been parent/caregiver support groups where parents of children who have been through this journey can provide perspective and resources. This was huge for me, especially in the beginning. Pride Tree hosts a summer camp that allows the kids to be safe and still experience the “normal” activities of childhood.
Now, I find myself in the role of advocate for all LGBTQ+ kids in our community. There is a hate group called Moms for Liberty popping up all over the United States. They are trying to get policies that protect our kids in schools repealed. They are also going after the books in the school libraries that show diversity and inclusion. They are going to keep coming until our children are no longer safe and they have school boards made up of like-minded individuals. So, every couple of weeks, I sit in a meeting room for 3-5 hours so I can stand up and speak the truth to our children. It is difficult to sit in the room with people who spew lies, myths, and hate towards our children, but someone must speak for them.
Last week, my kid and I attended an Equality Town Hall meeting. I was so proud when my child stood up and told his story to a room full of adults, including three of the school board trustees, about being a transgender child and the open bullying and hate he faced at school when first transitioning.
“I’d like to say that we trans students are not viruses, we aren’t a plague that some people consider us to be. We are children, students by law, just trying to get through life in a safe way.”
He is an advocate for other kids via social media and a defender of anyone being bullied for their gender identity. He has more than once asked me to speak with other parents when a child is struggling to be accepted in their own home. He inspires me everyday to do better, be better, and help others.
Part of my advocacy efforts includes speaking up in support of my child. I recently shared this message with my child’s school board:
“I am a mother of 2 school district students, one in elementary and the other in middle school. My children have been in the school district since their education journey began. We have been a part of 3 different schools, and I am grateful for the amazing teachers, staff, and administrators that have been a positive part of that journey. Yesterday was National Coming Out Day. When my oldest child came out as transgender in January 2021, at the age of 9 years old, I had a HUGE learning curve. I needed to figure out how to support them in transitioning socially and providing them with a safe learning space. I am so grateful that there were parents that came before us and fought hard to have protection and support for my child. I am grateful that the state legislature passed Senate Bill 225. I am grateful that the school district created Policy 5138 in compliance with that state law. I am here to thank you for your continued support of the Gender Support Policy. I feel strongly that any change to the policy will negatively impact the physical, mental, and emotional health of my child. And SO many more! My child is a loving, creative, talented young person that writes poetry, draws, games, and loves computer coding. He just started that class in 7th grade and is super excited about it. Please do not allow the angry, hurtful rhetoric of mostly non-parents influence a policy that allows ALL our children to be safe, healthy, and happy at school.”
Rachelle Turner (she/her) is a Sr. Talent Acquisition Partner and Licensed Veterinary Technician at VCA Animal Hospitals. In addition, Rachelle is a Pride VMC Member and an active member of the VCA Pride Diversity Resource Group. Rachelle is also a huge advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. As a member of the VCA Pride Diversity Resource Group Associates at VCA have access to community building resources, opportunities to share learning within the organization, and participate in community outreach opportunities.
