Tune in to ABC’s Primetime: Family Secrets at 10 p.m. ET tonight for the story of Chloe and Rene Prince and their two sons, ages six and seven. Chloe, formerly Ted, underwent gender reassignment surgery last year, and the show explores how her transition has impacted her and her family.
Six-year-old Barry explains, “She had a girl inside her. So she went on a surgery to get, get it out.”
There’s a text article about the family here. While there seems to be a little of the sensationalism that tends to accompany mainstream coverage of trans issues (“Click Here to see photos of Chloe’s transformation”), it also seems like one of the more balanced mainstream pieces I’ve seen. The article quotes Michele Angello, a clinical sexologist who has worked with transgender families for the past 10 years, who observes, “This, if handled like any other family transition . . . meaning, a move, a new job, a divorce in the family. If it’s handled where the children feel safe . . . and they’re allowed to talk about it, then it’s not going to be traumatic. In the long run, they’ll be perfectly fine.”
Thanks to COLAGE for the heads-up, and for a reminder about the COLAGE Kids of Trans program.