Reece, Age 8, Pennsylvania
REECE: I hate the governor in Texas. Making trans people play on the sports team of the gender from when they were born. Totally unfair. I don’t play sports, really. Well, I play karate. If I had to only compete with the boys, I would cancel out of karate! I’d hate it. Luckily, you told them what my gender and my name was so now when they accidentally say it wrong, they correct themselves.
MOM: They try. Reece is non-binary and uses ‘they/them’ or just ‘Reece’ as their pronouns. In karate it is pretty gendered with ‘mister’ or ‘miss’ when they’re calling the kids to do something, but they’ve said that they’ll just use Reece’s name, and they try to be as inclusive as possible. Sometimes they do make mistakes, and they try to correct themselves. We make sure we don’t put Reece in any situation where we’re unsure about that kind of stuff. We check ahead of time whether the place is going to be inclusive and receptive and affirm Reece. Because we don’t want to put Reece in any situation that would be uncomfortable.
The laws are scary. We talked a little bit to Reece the other day about what’s happening in Texas. About the parents who are simply loving and supporting their kids and doing the right thing being called child abusers, and how that’s really disturbing. We’ll do everything and anything we can to support Reece. In a sense, where we exist in Montgomery County, I feel like we’re sort of in a protected bubble. We’ve got a lot of love and support. The school the kids go to is a really supportive place. They use the correct language, and let the children use whatever bathroom they want to. But it’s so close here in Bucks County, and I am worried this conservatism is going to trickle down to where we are. As of now, we’ve been met with nothing but support. But I am nervous, and I feel like we need to be prepared for that and be ready to speak up against it.
REECE: Being prepared looks like punching them in the face if they do that!
MOM: No, Reece! Just being ready to go to school board meetings, speaking out, and hoping that people will do the right thing. I feel like I’m an optimist and I wonder how it’s possible that these laws could pass, it’s just so cruel. I try to think there are good people out there. How could this happen? But it is happening. You have to be ready to vote, and you have to be ready to go to these meetings and speak up. We’ll do everything we can.
REECE: When other kids see my photo, I want them to feel confident. Because I feel confident.
MOM: And don’t you want other trans kids to feel good about who they are?
REECE: Yeah. Especially don’t hide who they are.
DAD: Treat everybody the way you want to be treated. That’s the way I was raised. If everybody did that it would be a much better place.
MOM: Just to look at your child with love and support, always. Believe them, affirm them. Just do the right thing. I just want everyone to be true to themselves.