Former Channel 8 Political Commentator Jon Ralston is getting a huge response from an article he recently wrote. In the piece, Ralston shares a very personal story that involves his son. Ralson’s son, Jake is transgendered.

For years, Ralston has been one of highest profile political commentators in Nevada. During the early 2000’s Ralston was the political contributor at Channel 8 where he hosted the how Face to Face. As a political commentator Ralston has perfected a “go for the juglar,” interviewing style.

As a single dad, Ralston would sometimes bring his adopted daughter Maddy to work with him. People remember her and her sweet angelic ways. She was a friendly ball of energy.

Eventually, Ralston left the station, and moved on with his career and Maddy grew up. Last month, Ralston published a heartfelt piece called “The Child I Love,” announcing to the world that Maddy, a little girl many saw as a tomboy, was a trangender, and had legally changed his name to Jake.

“I just want to help people and if putting my story out there and putting myself out there helps people, then I’m gonna do it,”Jake Ralston said.

Jon Ralston says it wasn’t hard to write the piece, but accepting Jake’s reality — now that was a different story.

“I willfully remainded ingorant about it until I accepted where Jake was and who Jake was and actually who Jake always has been,” Jon said.

Jake who’s six months into testosterone injections, was fearful the news would hurt his dad’s career.

My instincts have always been to protect my family, so I protected him for a while by not going public with it, and then I realized I’m not happy, so then I sat down with him and told him I needed to do this for me, Jake said. “I need to be happy and I want to protect you as best I can, but protecting you is making you unhappy.

Jon says the reaction to “The Child I Love” piece has been extraordinary.

“The responses are still even today — this morning coming in,” said Jon. “It’s been been translated in French, in Spanish; elected officials, people I don’t know, people I haven’t heard from in 30 years; some people say it’s changed their lives, the response has been overwhelming in every way.”

“I was five when I started being very vocal about wanting to be a boy,” Jake said.

Jake spoke freely and openly about his transition. He told 8 News NOW about the emotional struggle he endured before he realized he was transgender.

Paul Joncich, 8 News NOW Anchor: “Was there that Eureka moment?”

Jake: “We were just fiddling around on goggle looking for stuff and it was like a 7th page google search, and you know your desparate when you get past the first page you google. It just popped up on this old Wikipedia page and I was like, this is what I am. It resonated with me and actually made me happy that I had a title to put on myself.”

8 NewsNow Employee: “I remember you when you were so litte. So like do you remember this place?”

Jake: “I rememer the desk being taller — yeah right!”

John: “You used to run around generally over there,” pointing to the area where his son used to play.

Friday night on 8 News NOW at 11, Jon and Jake return to the newsroom to share more about Jon’s love and respect for his son, and Jake’s desire to help others who are struggling with gender identity.