'Why did God make me like this?': Parents share incredibly moving film about having a transgender son and why they decided to let him change gender and become a boy at age five

Jeff and Hillary Whittington welcomed a daughter named Ryland who was born deaf

By the time Ryland turned one and learned how to speak thanks to cochlear implants, the child was telling his parents, 'I am a boy'

A year ago, the San Diego family embraced Ryland's transgender identity by cutting the child's hair and using male pronouns

Family received Inspiration Award during 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast last week

When Jeff and Hillary Whittington, of San Diego, got the news in 2007 that they were having a daughter, the couple had no idea that in a few years' time they will be raising a son instead.

Last Thursday, the family were honored at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, accepting the Inspiration Award after presenting a stirring video showing their daughter Ryland's female-to-male transition.



The six-year-old dressed in a smart suit and tie, his hair cut short, stood next to a podium and read his prepared remarks from a sheet of paper, declaring to the audience: 'My name is Ryland Whittington. I am transgender kid.'



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Pretty in pink: Ryland Whittington was born biologically a girl in 2008 Fit for a princess: Knowing they were having a daughter, the family decorated Ryland's room in pastel colors First curveball: At age one, the Whittingtons discovered that little Ryland was born deaf



The family's beautifully produced video, which so far has been viewed on YouTube nearly 100,000 times, details how little Ryland and his parents came to embrace his true gender identity.



For the Whittingtons, the first curveball came when they discovered that Ryland, then aged one, was born with a severe hearing impairment.



The parents were heartbroken, but thanks to cochlear implants their child was able to communicate.

Not long after learning to speak, Ryland declared to his parents: 'I am a boy.'



Even though the toddler lived in a room painted pink, sported long blonde hair and was dressed by his parents in girly outfits, he naturally gravitated toward everything masculine.



At first, Jeff Whittington, a former firefighter-turned-real estate agent, and his wife, ignored the signs, thinking that Ryland was just a tomboy, or that it was a phase that soon will pass.



Tomboy: The toddler, seen here dressed as Spider Man, soon started rejecting everything feminine

Struggle: The little girl desperately wanted to cut his long blonde hair short and declared he was a boy



Denial: The parents' friends and family told them Ryland was just a tomboy, or that it was a phase for him

Truth comes out: Through consultation with experts and their own research, the San Diego parents came to the realization that daughter was actually a boy



But by the time Ryland turned five, he started actively rejecting everything feminine and soon was overwhelmed with a sense of shame.



'When the family dies, I will cut my hair so I could be a boy,' Ryland had told his parents on one occasion.



Another time, the child exclaimed in anguish: 'Why did god make me like this?'



The Whittingtons sought professional help and began researching the topic of childhood gender identity on their own.



There was only one obvious answer: their child was transgender.



Jeff and Hillary, who also have a younger daughter, were frightened to learn from a recently study that 41 per cent of transgender people have attempted suicide due to lack of societal acceptance.

Ryland was allowed to cut his hair

All-American boy: Ryland, now 6, loves playing soccer (left) and baseball (right)



Not everyone's on board: When the Whittingtons broke the news of their daughter's transition to their extended family, some relatives turned their backs on them

Words matter: The Whittingtons got into the habit of referring to their daughter 'he' and 'him'

Determined to prevent their child from becoming a statistic, the Whittingtons decided to wholeheartedly embrace Ryland's true identity.



The parents cut the toddler's blonde locks, bought a new masculine wardrobe and started using the male pronounces 'he' and 'him' when referring to Ryland.



They also redecorated his room, doing away with pink furniture and bedding to make Ryland feel more comfortable.



As they continued acquainting themselves with their new reality, the Whittingtons learned from experts that children's gender identity emerges between the ages of 3 and 5.



'Ryland's gender identity was not caused by our parenting style, family structure or environmental factors,' the couple stated in a slide featured in their family video.



New normal: Ryland dressed in a suit pictured dancing with a flower girl at a recent wedding reception

Born that way: The couple, who also have a younger daughter (pictured) wrote that Ryland's gender identity was not affected by their parenting style or other outside factors

Uplifting tale: Last Thursday, the family were honored at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, accepting the Inspiration Award

The seven-minute clip celebrating the family's incredible, and at times difficult journey, shows Ryland happily playing baseball and soccer, wearing ties and even dancing with a little flower girl at a wedding reception.



'Relative to the horrific things that people have to endure with their children all over the world, this is nothing,' his parents wrote.



Many members of the audience at the Harvey Milk Breakfast who watched the touching clip had tears in their eyes following the Whittingtons’ emotional presentation, LGBT Weekly reported.



‘One of the most inspiring things that Harvey Milk had done as far as our family is concerned,’ said Jeff Whittington, ‘was to encourage people to come out; to let their voices be heard; break down the walls, break down the barriers and start allowing people to see them for their authentic selves and be true to themselves.



He added, ‘This is our coming out … this is us making our voices heard.’

