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LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — And in the embracing of their transgender daughter Lynne, the parents, Albert and Leigh, relocated to Portland, Oregon primarily for the resources offered to trans kids in the area.

The family’s story is told in an in-depth article in Portland’s Willamette Week titled “Transgender at 10”. While I did share this story on my social media sites, I wanted to make note of the article in this space because the importance of parents understanding their transgender child is vital — a key towards lowering the woefully high suicide attempt rate by transgender people.

Indeed this story of a confused parent who set aside his political beliefs for the well-being of his trans child is a powerful tool to help other parents. You can go directly to that story here: http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22897-transgender_at_10.html

I also wanted to bring attention to the resources for trans kids in the Portland, Oregon area that were noted in the article.

TransActive: Set up in 2010 by Jenn Burleton, the organization helps 350 people in the Portland area and many others nationwide. The WW article states: “Children and parents nationwide reach out to TransActive confused, angry or excited. The staff help children come out to their parents, help parents understand their children, and intervene with schools, employers, police and the courts.”

The T-Clinic at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. Pediatric endocrinologist Karin Selva created the T-Clinic with seed money from Randall Children’s Hospital Foundation. Selva is being helped by psychologist Laura Edwards-Leeper of Pacific University who is hoping to develop a training program for trans youth there.

Selva: “If we treat them early, then when they’re adults, no one needs to know. I don’t want them to be known as the man in the dress, where they have to shave and wear a wig. I want them to live normal, happy, fulfilled lives.”

Edwards-Leeper: “Most people don’t get it. Dealing with school, telling their friends, parents, teachers, figuring out which bathroom to use. Portland is a great place for this.”

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Great story, great resources — my hat’s off to Willamette Week for the article.

TransActive: http://www.transactiveonline.org/index.php

T-Clinic: http://www.legacyhealth.org/our-legacy/stay-connected/newsroom/search-news-releases/2014/2014-08-Transgender10.aspx

http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22897-transgender_at_10.html

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Lexie Cannes — a great award-winning feature film about a trans woman. Watch it right now: http://www.amazon.com/Lexie-Cannes-CourtneyODonnell/dp/B00KEYH3LQ Or get the DVD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332

LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/ Read Lexie Cannes in The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-odonnell/

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Categories: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans