Watson

My mum reluctantly supported my transition. She knew I was mentally unwell when I began pursuing it. She knew I was probably making a mistake. Yet, she said nothing. Why? Fear. The fear of a mother, that her vulnerable daughter would cut her off if she objected. 1/8

She revealed something to me recently that she's never told me before. She attended counseling to address her grief at losing a daughter when I began to transition. She felt her daughter had died, and in her place was some man who was demanding to be her son. 2/8

She was a grieving mother with nobody and nowhere to turn to, because her grief was painted as transphobic and hateful, when in fact it was the opposite. It was unconditional love for her daughter that forced her to support me and stay by my side even though it hurt her. 3/8

Nobody ever asked her how she was. Nobody ever checked in to see how she was handling the loss of her youngest daughter. People just kept saying “good for her,” while she cried herself to sleep after looking at my baby pictures. 4/8

My mum didn't question or challenge me because she didn't want to lose me. The gender clinic had no such pressure. It was their job to question and challenge me – to evaluate my (clearly) poor mental health and treat me accordingly. Instead, they handed me HRT and surgery. 5/8

I'll never forget my mums face when I showed her the result of my double mastectomy. She physically recoiled, but then pulled herself together to support me. But I'll never forget the horror in her face when she saw her physically healthy daughters bloody, bandaged chest. 6/8

Today, my wonderful mum is still by my side, and has been equally supportive of my detransition. But I'll never forget the pain I put her through, the expectations I had – that she forget her beloved daughter and welcome her new son without question. 7/8