Kayden Coleman, a photo manager at the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia, says he loves absolutely everything about his daughter, Azaelia. “I love when she randomly comes over and gives me a hug and kiss. I love when she says 'Dada!' over and over and thinks it’s hilarious. I love her attachment to both of us.”



When Kayden met his husband, Elijah, a security guard at a pediatric hospital, they fell in love and got married, but never thought they would have kids. “To be honest, we didn't change our minds. It was a surprise. I was off testosterone because I just had top surgery and wound up pregnant. We didn't find out I was pregnant until I was already 5 months along,” said Kayden.

Kayden and Elijah documented Kayden’s transition from female to male and his unexpected pregnancy on their YouTube channel, The Shady Colemans. He says they encounter transphobia online, but have yet to have any in-person confrontations. To critics he says, “We are more than capable of loving our children just as much and just as efficiently as any other parent. Our children will not be any more confused or bullied about my being trans than any other kid is about something like having a single parent.”



Kayden and Elijah don’t have any specific plans yet for Father’s Day other than spending time together as a family. “My daughter is 17 months, so everything is fun right now," said Kayden. "But mostly I enjoy taking her to the park and having her demand that I go up and down the slide with her."