The Hongcouver | My transgender son: A mother’s lesson for critics of Vancouver school proposals

Vancouver mother Fiona Chen knew her daughter was different, almost as soon as she could express herself. “From age three she refused to wear dresses…there were so many beautiful dresses that I had to give away,” said Chen with a laugh.

But it was the start of a difficult journey. Now aged 11, Chen’s gender-non-conforming child finally found happiness six months ago after summoning the courage to tell her elementary school principal, after yet another playground fight, that she wanted to be referred to as “he”. The principal called to explain the situation to Chen, a Taiwanese immigrant, who said she was “not surprised at all” by the news. “I had long suspected”.

Now, Chen’s only child is her son, and is accepted as such by all who love him.

Opponents say the proposals will snatch away parents’ rights to raise their children as they see fit.

Chen (who is also Christian) doesn’t see it that way, and instead applauds the proposals as means to codify “a safer and a more protective learning environment for my child, and the kids in similar situations”.