Proud Parents Throw Gender Reveal Party For Transgender Son 17 Years Later

Jan 02, 2023 by apost team

There are parents who find it hard to accept the gender their children choose as they grow up. But some parents learn to come to terms with the fact that their children do not want to be labeled based on their biological sex assigned at birth. While it can be difficult, children will grow more confident and happier if their parents accept them for who they are.

One couple knew that even though their son was born a girl, she didn’t feel like one. Realizing they got it all wrong, a mother and her wife decided to correct their “mistake” on the day she gave birth to her child.

Love Gwaltney from Akron, Ohio decided to throw a gender reveal party for her transgender son 17 years later.

Gwaltney shared on social media photos from the gender reveal party which took place in 2020. In the photos, they used colors of the non-binary flag while they used colors of those who identify as transgenders for the layered cake.

Having included her son’s name in her original post, decided to redact it a year later as the latter felt dysphoric about it. At that time she posted on Facebook, her son originally went by Grey but now goes by Oaklee Schoolcraft.

Schoolcraft’s mom clarified that the original post was intended for people close to them only, saying they didn’t expect it to go viral.

“We wanted to announce that we got it wrong 17 years ago when we told the world we were having a little girl, and named that child (redacted). So, I like to introduce you to our SON: Grey (ETA: He now officially goes by Oaklee),” Love Gwaltney wrote.

Schoolcraft opted to go for the pronouns he/him but said he doesn’t mind if people use they/them.

While Gwaltney acknowledged that a lot of people showered them with love and support, she couldn’t help but feel hurt for her son with all the hateful comments the latter received.

“These bigoted, transphobic trolls are attacking a 17-year-old. And shame on you for that. Luckily, our children are more woke and less hateful than those leaving negative, hurtful comments,” Gwaltney said.

Then there was an outpouring of love and support from other people.

“What a sweet way to make the formal announcement a celebration of your amazing kiddo! Incredible family support - as it should be. I don’t personally know a transgender person; but I do know life is temporary - do what makes you happy and whole with the years you’ve got,” one person said.  

“Such a beautiful idea to celebrate your child’s identity. We also got it wrong with one of our babies,” another person wrote.

Meanwhile, Gwaltney shared an inspiring message for those who have seen her post, saying she felt proud for those who felt recognized because of her post.

“We are absolutely loving the outpouring of love from the community. We did not post this in hopes of so much attention, but for each LGBTQ person out there who has connected with this or who has in anyway felt seen by this post, we are proud to have brought that recognition to you, even briefly,” she remarked.

On how he felt about having the party, Schoolcraft told CNN: “You’ve been going by one name all your life and to suddenly go by a new name, especially when your parents call you by it, it’s weird and has to register in your brain. But it’s definitely 100% worth it and I’m glad we had (the reveal party).”

apost.com

What can you say about the way Oaklee Schoolcraft’s parents acknowledged his gender as a transgender man? Let us know what you think.