Living a Transgender Childhood

Director: Hoda Kotb
Release Year: 2012

The 2012 documentary Living a Transgender Childhood, produced and reported by Hoda Kotb for Dateline NBC, shed light on the emotional and complex journey of a transgender child named Josie Romero, born as Joseph Manalang Romero. At the tender age of four, Josie, who was assigned male at birth, knew with certainty that she was not in the body she felt matched her identity.

 

This powerful realization, and the subsequent transition she underwent, formed the crux of the documentary. Through Josie’s story, viewers were offered a rare and intimate look into the world of transgender children, their families, and the challenges they face navigating identity in a world often slow to understand and accept them. Josie Romero was born in April 2001 in Colorado, United States, to Venessia and Joseph Romero. Josie was a twin, but tragically her twin sister passed away shortly after birth. Raised alongside her younger sister, Jade, who was adopted into the family at the age of two, Josie had a relatively typical early childhood. However, her parents began to notice that from a very young age, Josie exhibited signs of a deep and persistent gender identity that did not align with her assigned sex at birth. By the time Josie was four years old, she was adamant that she was a girl. As her mother, Venessia, explained, Josie’s behaviors and words were not those of a child simply playing pretend. “She would always correct anyone who called her a boy,” Venessia recalled. Josie began wrapping scarves around her waist to simulate a skirt, a game she found joy in, and she gravitated toward traditionally feminine toys and activities. Venessia remarked that Josie seemed to naturally prefer girl’s clothing and would sometimes borrow her mother’s makeup or her sister’s dresses. Yet, the most telling moment came when Josie, after being corrected by her parents for insisting she was a girl, simply replied, “No, I really am a girl.”

 

In the documentary, Josie's path toward transition begins with a visit to a U.S. military doctor stationed in Japan, where the Romero family was living at the time. At just six years old, Josie was seen carrying a doll and attempting to breastfeed it, an act that led the doctor to immediately recognize the signs of gender identity disorder (GID), now referred to as gender dysphoria in more modern medical terminology. Gender dysphoria occurs when a person’s gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth, often leading to distress and discomfort. The diagnosis of gender identity disorder was a pivotal moment for Josie and her family. For Venessia and Joseph, who had initially hoped their child’s behavior was just a phase, the doctor’s diagnosis was both a relief and a challenge. Josie’s insistence on being a girl was not a passing stage but a profound and persistent understanding of herself. The family decided to support her in her transition, which led to her embracing a female identity and adopting the name Josie Claudine Romero.

 

Following Josie's diagnosis, the Romero family was faced with the difficult decision of how best to support their daughter. They made the choice to begin Josie’s transition, treating her as a girl, and they noticed almost immediately an improvement in her mental and emotional well-being. Venessia and Joseph realized that Josie’s depression and anxiety - symptoms she had exhibited earlier in her childhood - had been a result of the mismatch between her gender identity and her assigned sex. Once Josie was allowed to express herself as a girl, she thrived, and her behavioral issues, which had previously been attributed to depression and anxiety, seemed to dissipate. However, this decision was not without its difficulties. The Romeros faced significant challenges, both personal and social, as they navigated this new terrain. As part of their commitment to supporting Josie’s transition, they eventually made the decision to leave Japan in 2008, relocating to Tucson, Arizona, where Josie and Jade began attending a public school. However, due to concerns about how Josie would be treated by her peers, the family decided to homeschool both girls. Despite the isolation, the Romero family’s decision to support Josie was unwavering. They sought counseling for Josie, helping her navigate her gender identity with the aid of a psychologist. Josie’s legal name was officially changed from Joseph Manalang Romero to Josie Claudine Romero, and she began to live her life fully as a girl.

 

Although Josie’s transition was largely private for several years, the family’s story became widely known after National Geographic reached out through TransYouth Family Allies to interview them for a documentary. In 2012, Dateline NBC aired Living a Transgender Childhood, providing an in-depth look into Josie’s life and her family’s unwavering support. The documentary highlighted Josie’s journey, capturing the struggles and triumphs of a child transitioning and the critical role of family in fostering acceptance and love. Josie’s story resonated with many, and she soon became an advocate for transgender rights. In 2013, at just 12 years old, Josie wrote a letter to President Barack Obama in response to his second inaugural address. In the letter, Josie wrote about the struggles transgender people face in society. The letter became a landmark moment in her advocacy, where she called for equal rights and treatment for transgender individuals. In part, the letter read: "Transgender people are not allowed the freedom to do things everyone else does, like go to the doctor, go to school, get a job, and even make friends." Her words, poignant and mature beyond her years, spoke to the isolation and marginalization many transgender individuals, especially children, experience. Her letter, like her story, helped bring attention to the very real struggles that transgender people face in a world that often misunderstands or outright rejects them.

 

Josie’s transition was not without its challenges. In addition to the internal struggles of growing up in a body that didn’t reflect her true identity, Josie and her family faced external obstacles. The stigma surrounding transgender identities - particularly in children - was pervasive, and Josie’s family often had to navigate difficult conversations with educators, doctors, and the wider community. There were instances of bullying and discrimination that Josie had to endure, even at a young age, simply for expressing her true self. However, Josie’s story is ultimately one of resilience and empowerment. With the support of her loving family, her transition allowed her to flourish emotionally and socially. Josie’s experience is a testament to the importance of accepting children for who they truly are, and it highlights the critical role of family support in fostering a sense of self-worth and happiness in transgender individuals.

 

Josie’s journey from a young girl struggling with gender dysphoria to an outspoken advocate for transgender rights has been a beacon of hope for many. In an age where transgender rights remain a contentious issue, her story serves as a powerful reminder that the right to live authentically is a fundamental human right. While the journey for transgender individuals is far from easy, the support of loved ones, the medical community, and the broader society can make all the difference. Living a Transgender Childhood and the stories of children like Josie are important not just for raising awareness, but for shaping a future where all children, regardless of their gender identity, are empowered to live as their true selves.

 

via: tuko.co and youtube

Image credits: YouTube