Help Sweet T Get Gender Affirming Care

I want to tell you all about one of my favorite kids in this world. Sweet T.

Sweet T was assigned male at birth, but as early as she could formulate words she made it clear that we had mixed that up. Sweet T was always into finding ways to be self expressive from a very young age. Around the age of 2 she communicated that she wanted to be called sister. She let us know that something was not right with the clothes we had her wear, the name we called her, and even the toys we assumed she liked. As she was exploring more of her true self she wore all the princess dresses she could find to preschool. As she entered kindergarten she remained gender fluid even though she struggled with how to show up authentically everyday. At the age of 7 before the first day of school she told her parents she had always known she was a girl and decided it was time to let the world know her real name and gender. Sweet T has never looked back! She soared making new friends, singing, acting, speaking her mind and showing up as her true self every single day, even when it is scary.

She’s lucky to have been born to two parents who despite knowing nothing about how to support a trans kiddo have shown up every single day to hear and support sweet T’s needs, wishes, and truth. They have listened and learned and because of that their sweet kiddo has been able to advocate for herself and find her way to the truth about herself. Sweet T has 2 siblings who have supported and loved her throughout her entire journey showing just how easy it can be to believe someone when they tell you who they are. Sweet T is also supported by a big community and chosen family who love her, celebrate her and have unfortunately had to fight for her even harder than they already have been in the last year.

Everyone who knows sweet T will tell you she is 100% girl. It’s so clear when you meet her that she was right and knows exactly who she is. She’s so brave and powerful. She has the ability to dive deep into the hobbies she loves and is a great teacher about these things to those who will listen. She lives every breath in her truth and isn’t scared of people who don’t understand that. She sees the world in such a beautiful way and I believe that is part of her freedom to live in her truth.

Sweet T lives in Missouri, one of the states that are passing legislation to prohibit gender affirming care to trans kids. Over the last 6 months we have been watching in horror as the timing of these bills races against the timing of puberty for sweet T. Knowing that if things didn’t work out just right we would lose the opportunity completely. The great news is that sweet T’s timing has worked out perfectly with the implant schedule! As of right now she can get her implant before the deadline of the Missouri legislation.

Knowing we have a very small window of time, and not knowing what the future holds for sweet T and other trans kids in Missouri, has caused a financial hurdle that wouldn’t have existed if these laws were not a thing. Having less than a month to save $4000 is a lot for a family that has been put through so much pain and uncertainty over the last 6 months with Missouri legislation.

I’m asking if people can help sweet T beat this deadline by making sure that this financial hurdle isn’t the thing that blocks her access before the ban goes in place. She has her approval to get the implant and an appointment to get it, we just need to make sure she can afford it!

Please feel free to send our sweet T some encouraging messages as she moves forward with getting her blocker an exciting and big decision that she, her doctors, therapist, and parents all made together. She has shown such bravery existing out loud and I am so happy that our community can encourage and support her in that.

Evidence shows that kids like Sweet T have great outcomes both mentally and physically following the protocols her doctors have followed. She is not only fighting for her truth but for a better life and the research is clear that this step is vital for her to reach that space.

Please share and donate whatever you can. We are so close to having some kind of joy after a hard and devastating legislative season, and every bit of support sweet T can get makes a huge difference.