My child just told me they're trans: what now?

When your child tells you they are trans, the most important thing you can offer is belief and love. Families who accept their trans children early see a transformation: a struggling child becomes a flourishing one. You are allowed to get things wrong, to ask questions, and to learn as you go. What matters is that your child knows you are on their side.

Does affirming a child's gender identity cause harm?

Affirming a trans child's gender identity does not cause harm. The research picture is consistent: trans young people with supportive families show significantly better mental health outcomes than those without support. Affirmation means listening, using chosen names and pronouns, and allowing a child to explore who they are at their own pace. It is not the imposition of an ideology, and describing it as child abuse misrepresents both the evidence and the practice.