Just dropped my little guy off at sleep away camp. The director was there to meet us and make sure that our kid was comfortable. Director asked our kid what name and pronouns to use and IMMEDIATELY fixed it in their system.
They were so welcoming and kind I could cry.
My kid came out as trans recently and is going to sleepaway camp next week. It's a really progressive camp, and they have policies in place for trans kids. My kid hasn't decided yet if they're going to come out, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do.
[Charlie Brown "augh" noise]
Who has experience with a kid going to sleepaway camp? Should I give their camp counselors a heads-up, at least so they know I know that kiddo is trans and I'm okay with it.
This post will likely be all over the place, as this is relatively new (though I've suspected it for a while).
My (31 trans man) 6-year-old came out to me as trans a couple of days ago. We've always had regular "words" check-ins (based on the picture book What Are Your Words? - I would just ask both of my kids "What words do you like people to use for you?" and "What names do you like people to call you?" 6-year-old spent a little while asking for "he" and "they" around 2.5/3. This faded after a while, coinciding with the start of preschool, though when asked they would often say their words were "she" and "they."
The other day, we were driving home, and they got really quiet in the backseat in a way that worried me. They told me, "Dad, I think I'm trans," and I gently prompted them, like, "What does that mean to you? What are you feeling?" They told me they don't feel like a girl, and that they feel maybe nonbinary or maybe a boy, and that they want me to call them "they" and "them" and maybe to use a different name. They also asked me not to tell any other adults in their life yet.
That's why I'm here. On one hand, I'm so grateful my child feels safe enough with me to share something so personal about themself. I know firsthand how fluid gender can be, and I don't necessarily expect this to be their final stop on their gender journey. I want to support them.
On the other hand, as a grown trans man, (Charlie Brown yelling noises). I don't want my kid to be trans. Not because being trans is bad, or wrong, or anything. Because I don't ever want them to be the target of a hate crime like I have been. Because I have worked in advocacy for trans youth for close to 10 years at this point, and I've seen firsthand the negative effects that living in this country and in our state can have on trans kids. Because my kid plays a highly competitive contact sport from which they would absolutely be barred if they came out as trans - and to be clear this is the fault of the sport's governing body and not my sweet kid. But if and when we get to that point, it will break their heart.
Once again, I'm so proud of my kid, and I love my kid, and I will always support them as themself, whoever that is and whatever that looks like. I just don't want the world to be harder for my kid. That's what I'm terrified of.
I don't know if anyone has any advice, or if I want advice, or if I'm just screaming into the void. I just love my kid. And I'm scared.
https://www.14news.com/2026/05/19/ocu-announces-layoffs-cuts-undergraduate-programs/
After saying they were going to stay open just six days ago.
I told them they've done a great job at being good luck and using their penguin telepathy on the Pens. Told them to keep it up and tell Sid to win again
Since it worked last time, I went and told the penguins at my local zoo (not Pittsburgh) to use their penguin powers to communicate with Sid and the guys and help them win. One of them swam up to me and followed me back and forth, which feels like a good sign.