When Julie Hindsley was pregnant six years ago, she threw a gender reveal party to celebrate her baby boy with all things blue. Now, she’s going viral for giving her child a “gender re-reveal party” after her daughter came out as transgender.
Hindsley wanted to celebrate her daughter, Ella, with a special photo shoot. The mom from Waco, Texas told CafeMom that her daughter “was always drawn to anything feminine” from the moment she could express herself.
“We were convinced it was either a phase or we were likely going to have a gay son,” Hindsley told CafeMom.
However, Ella proved that it wasn’t just a phase. When she was around 3 or 4, she approached her mom and said, “I want to be a girl! Mom! Just make me a girl!” Hindsley decided then that Ella could grow out her hair like she wanted to.
Hindsley recalls comments Ella would always make about her gender. During one car ride, Ella said, “I was supposed to be a girl in your tummy, Mom. Why did I not come out as a girl?”
Soon, the family sought help from a therapist, who recommended that they transition Ella socially as soon as possible. Ella was able to get the new wardrobe she wanted, and the family introduced Ella’s new preferred pronouns and name to friends and family. The family is holding off on hormone blockers or hormone therapy until Ella is older.
The Family’s Journey
“Although I have now come to a turning point for the most part,” Hindsley told CafeMom, “I think all of we transgender parents start off in an initial phase of fear. No one would ever wish this on their child; not because we aren’t accepting, but because we know their life is going to be significantly harder.”
“The statistics around suicide and discrimination are jaw-dropping and continue to keep me up some nights and leave a pit in my stomach any time I think about them,” she explained.
That fear didn’t stop Hindsley from sharing her family’s story to Facebook, however. In February, she made a post to celebrate Ella, which caught the attention of photographer Heather Harris Witt. The photographer reached out and offered to do a photoshoot to spread awareness.
In her latest Facebook post, Hindsley shared photos from the photoshoot, which captured her entire family: her husband, 11-year-old son Grant, herself, and Ella.
In the post, she quoted Gabrielle Union, who recently was in the news celebrating her young daughter coming out as transgender. She quoted, “You are such an inspiration and motivation to get my butt up every day and fight. When I’m weary, frustrated, full of rage, I see your face and your joy and you living your best life and I want that for all of us. Enjoy this day and every day knowing you are loved, protected, respected, admired, and celebrated.”
Transgender Reveal Party — Sources
CafeMom
Julie Hindsley, Facebook