The act of being transgender dates all the way back to Egyptian times when recognized priest who were male bodied individuals that presented themselves as female. Transgender are people whose gender identity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth (1).For example, Although they have normal XY genes, normal male genitalia, and are raised as boys, they nevertheless have the gender feelings, body feelings and gender identity of girls(2). The United States in recent years has become more and more accepting and understanding of those that identify themselves as transgender.
The story of Ryland Whittington has brought about a tremendous amount of controversy over the past few months. A San Diego native couple Jeff and Hillary gave birth to a baby girl in 2007 and named her Ryland Whittington. Baby Ryland suffered from an earring issue and had to undergo cochlear implant surgery. Shortly after she learned how to hear and speak, the first words to her parents were her expressing to them that she “I am a boy”. At first, Jeff and Hillary Whittington just thought of Ryland referring to her as a boy was a phase that will eventually pass with age. But, in fact it didn’t just pass; Ryland reportedly told her father “When the family dies, I will cut my hair so I could be a boy” and asking “why god made me like is?” .So, from then on they decided to consult professionals and came to realize that what Ryland was feeling and expressing to them wasn’t just a tomboy phase she was in fact transgender boy.
Jeff and Hillary began truly listening to what Ryland had been telling them for years. Consequently, at the age of five years old both her parents and Ryland agreed to cut her hair off and start referring to her as a boy. They went on to sending letters out to family and loved ones explaining to them that Ryland is now to