At the Lexington Community Center, three transgender youth and their families took a stand on April 14.

The young adults from different communities spoke to a crowd about the challenges and revelations of finding themselves and coming out. Being transgender means someone’s whose current identity differs from their sex at birth, regardless of whether they have changed their biological characteristics.

“We’ve got our daughter now,” said Craig Hall of Reading about his 11-year-old daughter, Kimma.

Kimma Hall, of Reading, explained she felt uncomfortable in her own skin for years before coming out. Kimma was certain she identified as female because of how natural she would feel exhibiting feminine traits.

“I realized I was a girl when I put on my mother’s wedding dress,” Kimma said. “That’s when you get that instant click moment when you know this is right for you.”

Kimma’s parents Jodi and Craig addressed the crowd supporting their daughter, likening the time before her coming out as feeling lost.

“For many years, she had been a very unhappy girl in a boy’s body. Transgender issues were not on our radar at all,” Craig Hall said. “We got to meet this daughter we’ve been waiting 11 years for.”

Jeff Perrotti, founding director of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Safe Schools Program for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning Students, facilitated the conversation.

For Perrotti, being positive and finding self-identity are of utmost importance.



“Positive psychology is really about what you’re trying to create,” Perrotti said. “It’s about the positive emotions.”

Perrotti said being a transgender person can be difficult even after accepting oneself because social isolation can be a crippling problem for some.

“I can’t tell you how many transgender people told me they don’t use a bathroom,” Perrotti said. “More people say they have seen a ghost than know a transgender person.”

According to a 2011 study by the Williams Institute, 0.3 percent of Americans, or roughly 700,000 people, consider themselves transgender.

Alex Bryson began identifying as a boy early in life. Upon coming out, he said family members came to him with open arms.

“When I told my family I wanted to use male pronouns, my sister jumped in my arms yelling, 'Bro! Bro!'” Alex said.

Alex’s mother Amy Bryson said she felt like her child finally came to her after coming out.

“I felt I finally met Alex when he came out,” Amy said. “It was a little difficult when you see your kid going through this, but you can only be supportive of him.”

Alethea Roy, the fine arts coordinator for Lexington Public Schools, said being a parent of a transgender child can be emotionally taxing. Dealing with a sensitive subject such as gender identity can be difficult, but being supportive and strong for the child is the most important thing to keep in mind, according to Roy.

“Even if you’re being the best parent, you still mess up,” said Roy,who attended the program. “It’s a struggle for them and it’s a struggle for you.”

Being an educator who has worked with transgender students, she said the educational system can be a great tool for parents in navigating through gender identity.

“We really want to support your kids,” Roy said.

Joshua Mattera of Lynnfield was proud to address the crowd. With self-assurance beaming, he said has has only one condition for people who meet him.

“You’ve got to accept me for who I am,” Mattera said.