A mother of twin boys has spoken out about her decision to allow one of them to live as a girl.
Gloucester mum Emma Symonds (34) revealed that her four-year-old son Logan has believed he is female since he was 18-months-old.
Emma revealed how, at the age of just two-years-old, Logan would become aggressive when forced to wear boys clothing. When a pair of pink ballet shoes curbed the tot’s aggression, his mum decided to let him wear whatever he wanted inside the house.
Now, as Logan and his brother Alfie get accustomed to big school, Emma has chosen to support him in his decision to wear a traditionally female uniform.
“Letting Logan wear a pinafore to school was a big step for us all.” Emma told The Irish Mirror.
“I’ve been letting him live as a girl and wear girls’ clothes since he turned three, and a couple of months ago I agreed he could grow his hair long. During Easter half-term he told me he wanted to wear a dress to school, to be like all the other girls.”
Like any mum, Emma, who also has two older children, Daisy (11) and Charlie (6) worried about how the other pupils would react to Logan’s choice of clothing.
“Luckily, the school, Logan’s friends and their parents have all been so supportive,” she said.
“It’s a life-changing journey for Logan, but I’m going to support him all the way.”
According to the HSE, roughly one in 4,000 people in Ireland is receiving medical help for gender identity issues but there may be many more who have not sought support. On average, men are diagnosed with gender dysphoria five times more often than women.
For more information and family support, visit the Transgender Equality Network Ireland website.
Image credit: Irish Mirror/Hotspot Media
