Stories of anti-trans vitriol dominate the media, which makes it easy to forget just how many folks out there give endless love and support to the trans people in their lives.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of parents across the country fight with all their might to provide their trans kids with love, hope, and a community of support. They fight to shield their kids from pain and to make them feel proud of who they are.

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The November Issue of LGBTQ Nation celebrates the incredible parents uplifting their trans children at one of the most challenging times in history for the community. It highlights the passionate, furious, and exhausting behind-the-scenes work these unsung heroes do to give their kids the lives they deserve.

LGBTQ Nation asked these parents a simple question: What do you wish the world knew or understood about your trans child? We received dozens of responses, and are publishing some of our favorites every Friday this month (you can also still submit).

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In every single message, one thing became clear: These parents want nothing more than for the world to see the humanity in their kids, to see past the pronouns and body parts and understand that they are so much more than their genders.

Here is what 10 of these parents, who we have allowed to remain anonymous, had to say.

He’s destined to make a difference

“Jack has always been the same human we met the day he was born. Calling him our son hasn’t changed anything about who he is. But the day we started referring to him as our son Jack, the entire world opened up for him. He’s just like any other 5 year old. He loves going to school and learning about science. He loves to sing, dance and play music.

We see the unique perspective that he brings to our lives and will continue to gift to the world. We hope for a future that gives him the chance to be whoever he chooses to be. He’s destined to make a difference.”

They’re planning to study marine biology

“My child has so much to offer this world—just like yours. They’ve been accepted to a university to study marine biology, pursuing their dreams with passion. Like anyone, they simply want to be accepted and loved. They’re also one of the most caring and generous friends anyone could ask for. We are so blessed to have him in our lives.”

They live & love out loud

“My trans children show more bravery every day than most people will need to display in their entire lives. They show up with kindness, openness and light in a world that wants to crush their spirit. They live and love out loud and simply ask to be acknowledged for who they are and not who society says they should be. I am proud to be their Mama and proud that they are changing the world.“

She is so proud of being trans

“She just wants to be a kid. She wants people to see her self, not just her identity. She is so proud of being trans, but she is also creative, emotionally intelligent beyond her years, and funny as hell. The people around us either don’t know or forget that she is trans, because there is so, so much more to her.”

He is a gift from God

“About 1 year after my son let me know he was transgender, I (white, cis-gender, straight, female) attended an event for Indigenous Peoples Day. After the event, I was speaking to a Tribal Elder and asked about the concept of Two-Spirit. During the conversation she looked at me and said, ‘Transgender people are a gift to our world.’ And I started crying. No one had ever told me that transgender was a gift- that my transgender child was a gift.

That moment changed me. It made me realize that, while I considered myself an ally, I was still approaching transgender from a deficit or “other” perspective rather than from an asset perspective. As a Christian, I contextualize her message within my religion, that transgender people are a gift from God and have so much love, insight, and light to share with the world, if we are willing to listen.

What do I want the world to understand about my transgender child? Transgender children are not mistakes, misguided, brain-washed, or abominations. My child, and all transgender children, are gifts from God. We have so much to learn and love from them. And for parents of transgender children, I want you to know that Your child is a gift.”

You can feel the peace in her voice

“I wish the world understood that my daughter is so much more than the word transgender. She’s an artist who sees beauty in the smallest things, a musician who feels deeply, a caring friend, and the kind of sibling who makes everyone around her laugh and feel loved.

Her transition didn’t change who she is — it just allowed her to finally be who she’s always been. The same child who used to wake up saying, ‘It’s a beautiful day,’ is still right there. Only now, she says it as her true self, and you can feel the peace in her voice.

What I wish people knew is that being trans isn’t about confusion or rebellion — it’s about truth. It’s about finally being able to live without hiding. And watching her step into that truth has been one of the most powerful, humbling things I’ve ever witnessed as a parent.

She’s not someone to pity or fear. She’s someone to celebrate. She’s strong, kind, creative — and so full of love. I just wish the world could see her the way I do.“

Every trans child’s journey is different

“I am a mum of 3 children, 2 are trans, 1 is not. I wish people understood that every trans child’s journey is different. I have one who is out and proud, and one who is still partially closeted because she wants to preserve a couple relationships with non-affirming family until she is older. One has medically transitioned and has overcome quite significant dysphoria, the other experiences next to no dysphoria and is completely comfortable in her identity with just social transitioning at the moment. I wish people knew that parents of trans kids are simply parenting their children as unique individuals with their own needs, just like any other parent.”

He’s a real boy

“He’s a real boy, just like Pinocchio. He really is. From Mormons to Muslims, everyone that has spent time with him, teachers included, all say the same thing. He’s a boy.”

They are both gentle & generous

“Our trans son is just like anyone else finishing high school, trying to figure out what career path will be best for him…will it be following his love of acting or should he train to be a zookeeper? In the meantime he is trying to sample an iced matcha latte at every cafe in our city.

Our trans daughter juggles working successfully in retail and following her creative interests such as performing, singing, playing piano and writing stories & poetry. She’s not a fan of matcha.

They are both gentle and generous, insightful and creative. They care for their friends and visit their grandparents. They worry about the future like all young people do.

They are both loved, admired and supported by their cis brothers and us, their mum & dad!”

They know the world is not safe

“That they hide their transness. Even at 11, they’ve learned that the world is not a safe place for them, and choose to hide behind binary pronouns and appearances in unsafe spaces. Make your spaces safer. Ask kids their pronouns.”

He will always be safe at home

“My son knew he was a boy when he was three years old. The very first time we teach children pronouns. His response surprised us. At age six, we let him cut his hair and stopped calling him ‘She’. Three years seemed like a good amount of time for any ‘phases’ or waivering. He is 16 now. 

Honestly the thing I’d love for people to know is that my son is who he is. Even when he wears pink or likes something the world shoves into the ‘girl’ side, he is still him. It’s not a bad thing to allow your children to be secure in themselves. Secure and safe starts at home. It doesn’t matter how old any of my children become, they will always be safe at home. If I could give everyone that safety, to merely exist and be loved, I would.”

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