A seven-year-old Japanese boy with a gender identity disorder has been given permission to attend school as a girl in another sign that the country is relaxing its traditionally rigid attitude towards sexual identity.
He is said to have complained that he felt uncomfortable being a boy and asked his parents if he could have a sex-change operation. Japan's first such procedure took place in 1998, but patients must be aged 20 or over.
The school, in Kobe, western Japan, agreed to enroll him as a girl after consulting his parents and doctors in what is thought to be the first decision of its kind in Japan. According to reports, he will be allowed to use the girls' bathrooms and changing facilities, and to wear girls PE kit. Only his teachers have been informed of his condition.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,1778415,00.html
To all those out there claiming that homosexuality and/or gender disorders are purely choice -- at seven this child know that his physical gender is not who she is. While he won't be allowed to have a full sex change operation until she is 20 years old, at least she can live her life as she wants, preparing herself for the ultimate surgery to come.
I applaud the parents and administrators for taking this child's best interest at heart. Sure she may be ridiculed by others if her secret is exposed, but others don't matter as much when the people you love are supporting you.
In addition, I think that we as Americans, should follow the example and be much more open to people with gender disorders, especially children. Kids know a lot more about themselves than we think.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
right on
I completely agree with your blog. I took a psych class this semester on gender differences, and we studied alot about children who are born in the wrong body. I think this is such a sad thing, and most parents aren't aware that it's pretty common, and therefore react badly. You should be able to accept your children how they are and love them no matter what.
wow! that speaks volumes of how Japan has changed
Great. This opens the gates for many other things. Maybe more acceptence
That's all I can say. ^_^
I knew when I was 2.
BTW, I want to applaud you for using the correct pronoun. The young lady i the article who is the subject of your post might never read this, but someone else might. While pronouns are something that people who have never had to question their gender think nothing of, for transpeople they are a privilege that is hard won through considerable sacrifice of pain (physical/mental/emotional) and finances. The correct pronouns -- such a simple thing the majority never thinks about -- is a privilege. It shows respect for her identity, something transpeople risk their lives for and some wait an entire lifetime to hear.
By using the female pronoun when referring to her, you did the right thing. Good for you. You rock.
--
"Freedom is an expensive thing." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.