When your 19-year-old daughter comes to you and confesses she identifies as male, and always has, how do you react? Once upon a time, moms and dads might have cried and raged, wading through all the stages (in random order) of anger, denial, and grief. Fortunately that time isn't 2014 and those moms and dads aren't the brilliant Bogerts of Australia, who took it upon themselves to issue issue a correction in the local paper.
Under a photo of Elizabeth Anne Bogert, the Brisbane Courier Mail published the following retraction of an original birth announcement:
"In 1995 we announced the arrival of our sprogget, Elizabeth Anne, as a daughter. He informs us that we were mistaken. Oops! Our bad. We would now like to present, our wonderful son—Kai Bogert."
To which they added: "Loving you is the easiest thing in the world. Tidy your room."
The announcement, for obvious reasons, went viral on social media.
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I can't imagine how difficult and stressful it must be for a kid to brave that I'm Not What You Think I Am conversation with their parents. Needless to say, I love everything about how these parents handled Kai's revelation, i.e. there was nothing whatsoever to 'handle.'
Their love for their kid is simple and unwavering. It knows no conditions, bounds, disclaimers, or fine print. Which is as it should be. If all parents were as accepting of their children as they truly are—rather than as we want them to be— maybe then we have a shot at raising a generation of self-aware, accepting, and kind future adults.
Acceptance starts at home. It's our bad. Now let's fix it.
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