This Mom's Gift for Her Newly Out Trans Son Is Beyond Heartwarming

Photo: London Scout

Reddit isn't normally known as a place for moral and emotional inspiration, but a recent post proved that there are some good parts to the site. In the LGBT subreddit, a mother posted a short story, with an accompanying image, about her trans son. The parent, who revealed they were the child's mother, titled their post: "Daughter wants to be son, came out a couple of weeks before 15th bday. My bday gift to him. Bday is Tuesday. I SO love my child, who now wants to be Oliver."

Although it may not look like it, this humble gift is more than just a thoughtful DIY project for someone's newly out trans child. It's hope for the future, and an easy way for us to save trans lives because it all starts at home. It's important for friends and family alike to understand that they didn't lose anyone, and to wholeheartedly embrace whomever someone chooses to be. We all have one life, so shouldn't everyone get to live it the way they want (as long they're not causing harm to others)?

In a media system that often ignores trans lives (or focuses solely on their murders), we need more stories like this. Not because they make us feel good and not because they're uplifting. We need them because we need to create a cultural standard wherein parents do not even think about not accepting their child. Society was able to create shifts in attitudes before (I mean, just look at how whooping your child is thought of today versus a decade or two ago).

Share this and stories like it, and let's create a culture wherein trans people have at least one home base where they know they are loved for exactly who they are.