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Daniel Harrott & Shirley AustinArizona Transgender Family
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- The Harrote Family's Journey
- Daniel Harrote (formerly female):
- Mason Harrote (formerly female):
- Chelsea Harrote (formerly Joshua):
- Shirley Austin (formerly male):
- The Genesis of a Transformation
- Connection and Support
- A Family in Transition:
- Historical Roots
- Public Reaction and Expert Commentary
The Harrote Family's Journey
Gender Affirmation within a Family UnitIn a groundbreaking decision, an Arizona family of four has chosen to embark on a path of gender affirmation, with each member expressing dissatisfaction with their assigned sex at birth.
Daniel Harrote (formerly female):
Mother of the family, Daniel has lived as a woman for most of her life. Now, she is embracing her masculine identity and preparing for gender-affirming surgery. "It's like living for the first time," she says.
Mason Harrote (formerly female):
Daniel's 11-year-old daughter identifies as a boy. Mason prefers boys' clothing and feels their biological sex does not align with their inner essence.
Chelsea Harrote (formerly Joshua):
Daniel's 13-year-old son, Chelsea, was born as a male but claims his body is "wrong." He prefers to be a girl and has identified as female since he was 6 or 7 years old.
Shirley Austin (formerly male):
Daniel's fiancé, Shirley, also identifies as transgender and goes by female pronouns.
The Genesis of a Transformation
The family's journey began when Joshua first expressed his desire to live as a girl. Daniel's daughter followed suit, and it was not until after these disclosures that Daniel felt comfortable acknowledging her own masculine identity.
Connection and Support
The family's transformation was facilitated through their connection with another transgender individual, Shirley. Together, they have become a symbol of gender nonconformity, embracing their true selves and ignoring societal judgment.
A Family in Transition:
Both Daniel and Shirley were previously in heterosexual relationships and have children from those marriages. "They're transgender and I'm transgender," Daniel says of her children. "I know because I'm transgender."
Historical Roots
Daniel believes that transgenderism runs in her family, citing a great-aunt who was labeled a "cross-dresser." She suggests that this may have influenced her own and her children's gender identities.
Public Reaction and Expert Commentary
The news of the Harrote family's transition has sparked mixed reactions. Some express disapproval, viewing it as a sign of mental illness. However, leading expert in gender dysphoria, Dr. Kenneth Zucker, has been criticized for suggesting that the majority of transgender children would eventually "outgrow" their feelings.
