If your child wanted to have a sex change, would you deny them it or set wait for...

[Cicero]

Would you allow your child (meaning under 18) to have a sex change or would you deny them the sex change or would you wait to see if they "grew out of it"?


So on the show "Katie" they are showing transgendered kids, from the age of 2-18. So that's where I got this thread from (not from the transgender thread).

For me personally, I would wait to see if they grew out if it (because its normal for boys to like to play dress up and play with barbies, right? [i sure hope, cause I played with barbies haha]) But then if they wanted a sex change when they got older, I would wait till they are 18.

[Horizon]

I think it sounds reasonable. Since our hormones are like a hurricane inside right now, it may be making people think things like that.

And another point is, we won't be the same person in a few years, so we may think differently.

So yes, I would make them wait to see if it was just a phase they were going through, I wouldn't want them making rash decisions like that.

[Sugaree]

If it is medically safe to do so, no, I wouldn't deny them. If it would put them in danger medically, then I would explore options. But if they were two or three? I might see if they grow out of it. I think around the ages of 13 to 16 are the ages I would really take seriously if they ever brought it up.

[Gigablue]

Obviously if they were still a very young child, I would wait. Small children shouldn't be trusted to make any medical decisions. But if they were older, say a teenager, I would take them seriously. I might wait a bit, just to make sure they were certain about what they wanted, but I wouldn't make them wait until they were 18.

[MisterSix]

Once they are a legal adult, you can't deny them.

[workingatperfect]

I think I would make them wait until they were an adult. Most of the teens I know hardly know who they are, what they are and who they want to be. Everybody goes through a phase where they aren't happy with themselves and wish they could be like someone else. I think there's a bigger chance that they would realize it was a mistake than them being happy with their decision. At the very least, I would never ever let my kid under 16 do it.

[Jess]

If they were really young, I would wait. If they were a teen, I wouldn't deny them what they want (or at least take them seriously), though I might still wait a bit.

[CharlieFinley]

Not on your life.

[Human]

i doubt it's safe to go through a sex change during puberty or growing up, taking hormones and stuff doesn't seem safe so i'd wait until they were old enough to do it themselves without having to go to thailand where it's legal under a certain age

[Syvelocin]

Well, yeah, I'd have to see that this was really what they want. It's not a matter of Barbies and dresses guys. I've watched a documentary or two following pre-pubescent transgender kids. One of the mothers found their kid with his penis in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other. The kids are so confused. They feel so wrong. I couldn't stand my kids like that.

I wouldn't let them have surgery until they're 18, but after a year or two of talking about it I would look into the hormone blockers. When you wait until after puberty, everything is much harder for them. Not just for them emotionally, but the physical changes. If you get them before puberty, their transition can be amazing. Otherwise, they're much more prone to extensive surgeries because the hormones aren't enough.

[What_ever]

I think that's something I wouldn't let my child do. I would support my child if he or she would decide to have a sex change, but I would advice him or her to wait until (s)he is sure, so I would not allow him/her to have a sex change before his/hers 18th birthday.

[Apollo.]

I'd wait if they were really young but at about 15-16 if they were very serious about it I'd be fine. All I would want is a kid to be happy, I have no objections to anything that wont harm them!

[AbbaZabba]

I'd wait till they were at least a legal adult and then really, it would be up to them. Not what I would want, but it is their life and I certainly would still love them.