Dude Looks Like a Lady

My son is about as tight lipped as a teenage boy can be when it comes to school.  We hear nothing.  I often rely on my friends to inform me about current school gossip, etc.  So, it came as a shock yesterday when my son comes home and says he had something really 'wack' to tell me..........he said, and I quote, "Some kid at school had a sex change operation!"

My first thought was, "In the middle of a school year?  How is that possible?  Spring break is still a few weeks away!"

My second thought was, "My son clearly doesn't know what the hell he's talking about."

I began to pepper him with questions, such as 'Does the boy have boobs now?'  Alll my son really knew is that he saw the boy wearing a short skirt and a purple, 'sparkly' blouse.  His legs weren't shaved and he was wearing boys tennis shoes (not heels!)  My son had no idea if the boy had on makeup or a bra or a purse or anything else.  I don't think he wanted to stare.  He overheard some kids at  lunch say that the boy, formerly known as Kyle, now wanted to be called Katie, and that he had a new facebook page explaining everything.

Well, I immediately looked him/her up!  'Katie' explained how she was going to be doing hormone replacement therapy for 3-5 years and then have an operation.  The only other thing on her wall were links to videos such as 'Mom won't relent to gender change!'

Since my son is not an Oprah viewer, he didn't really understand any of it..........and probably didn't want to.  I told him it was unlikely that any doctor would perform surgery on someone under 21, but that maybe if the parents had agreed, he really would be taking hormones to change some of his male characteristics, etc.

I asked Middle Child if she knew the boy, since he was only a year behind her in school.  She told me she had been in speech therapy with him in 5th grade.  On a whim, I looked him up in the yearbook, and he looked as though he possibly had some sort of disability, though I really have no clue.  It's sad to me and I hope no one is making fun of him.  My son didn't seem to think anyone was making a big deal about it, at least not out in the open.  I can't imagine how teachers are dealing with the name change, etc.  Fortunately, most seniors are done with phys.ed. and wouldn't be using the locker rooms unless they play a sport.

These are not situations I ever came across in high school!