It went viral, so most of you have probably heard the story. Here at DailyKos, the story was first addressed by ChrisLove in a Top Comments from last weekend.
Basically the story is that Jeff and Hillary Whittington of San Diego had a child in 2007. Ryland was declared a girl at birth. Around the age of one they discovered that Ryland had been born deaf. Ryland underwent surgery to implant cochlear implants. Then Jeff and Hillary had to teach Ryland how to hear and speak.
As soon as Ryland learned the concepts of boy and girl, Ryland demanded that he was a boy.
Our opponents often claim that it is parents who teach their children to be transgender. One has to ask how that is supposed to have happened in this case...when Ryland was physically incapable of being told he was a boy.
Our opponents claim this behavior is just a phase.
When the family dies, I will cut my hair so I can be a boy.
_-Ryland
Why did God make me like this?
--Ryland, through tears
The Whittington's created this video about Ryland. It says more than I can.
Of course Fox News just couldn't have a happy transgender boy. They had to chime in with some counterfeit coinage.
Dr. Keith Ablow of Fox's "Medical A Team" says the story is not so heartwarming.
Well Dr. Ablow, that would require that you have a heart.
I am not convinced that the best option for children who are uncomfortable with their gender is to rapidly transition them to the opposite gender. I believe that on reflection, it will be shown that other paths may be the wiser paths.
--Keith Ablow
Ablow mentally time travels to a time when Ryland will be facing the question of surgery...as if Ryland's childhood is of no importance.
The video, which seems so full of joy, doesn’t forecast the time spent with urological and plastic surgery, and the possibility that this girl will question her decision down the road.
--Ablow
How would he prefer the situation be handled?
From a personal, not a professional standpoint, were my daughter to assert that she were a boy, not a girl, there is no chance we would be headed to a surgeon’s office without a trial of anti-psychotic medication.
--Ablow
So transgender is psychosis, Dr. Ablow?
How is that diagnosis not malpractice?
My name is Ryland Michael Whittington. I'm a transgender kid. I am six. I am a cool kid.
I am the happiest I have ever been in my whole life.
Thank you to my parents.
--Ryland, at the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
Enough said.