My Child Is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support

In this upbeat debut guide, Greene, a trans man and LGBTQ inclusion consultant, offers advice on how cis parents can “help build supportive homes... for trans young people,” whom Greene calls “VIPs.” The most important thing parents can do, he suggests, is to “listen empathetically” and “accept your VIP as the leading expert on themselves.” Writing for readers with little familiarity with trans issues, Greene provides a rundown of common pronouns and a thorough glossary of such terms as “cisnormativity,” “genderqueer,” and “pansexual.” Recommendations for supporting trans kids include helping them find LGBTQ support groups and setting a routine of “picking five things you and your VIP like about yourselves today” to counteract “loops of self-criticism.” Greene also weighs in on how parents can find trans-friendly healthcare providers and help their child navigate coming out at school. Much of the advice focuses on guiding parents as they work through their own feelings. For instance, Greene writes that while “it’s okay to acknowledge that this may be a new way of looking at the world,” parents should process any conflicted emotions with “sources other than your VIP.” Greene writes with compassion for trans youth and their parents, ensuring the former feel supported as the latter get up to speed. It’s a pragmatic program for parenting beyond the gender binary. (May)