Supporting your trans teen: Chase and Sarah’s stories

Supporting a transgender teen through their journey of self-discovery can be a deeply transformative experience, for both the teen and their family. In the videos below, Chase and his mother Sarah share their insights about puberty, coming out and how to support your loved ones in living authentically.

Chase’s experience coming out as trans during puberty

Puberty is a challenging time for all teens, but for trans teens like Chase, it can be especially difficult when the physical changes don’t align with their gender identity. In this video, Chase reflects on his relationship with his parents throughout his transition, and how their support made a positive impact on his self-esteem and wellbeing.

Video transcript.

Here’s what Chase learned during his journey:

• Every teen deserves to choose who they come out to and when. During high school, Chase was "stealth", meaning he didn’t share his transgender identity with anyone at school – a choice that felt safer and more comfortable for him at the time.

• Connecting with allies along the journey, such as school psychologists and LGBTQIA+ youth groups, provided vital support and helped him process his feelings during a time of significant change.

• Parental support makes all the difference. Thanks to his parents’ openness and understanding, Chase’s relationship with them grew stronger.

Sarah’s reflections on supporting Chase with his gender identity

When Chase first came out as transgender, his mother Sarah initially felt grief and feared she was ‘losing’ her child. However, by staying open-minded and willing to learn, their bond grew even stronger.

Video transcript.

Here’s what Sarah learnt from her experiences:

• Connecting with local LGBTQIA+ support groups helped them learn from others and navigate the complexities of the coming out process.

• Listening to Chase and allowing him to take the lead in how and when to come out showed him that he had her unconditional love and support.

• Sarah discovered that it wasn’t the gender of her child that was important, but the fact that they are living authentically. This understanding deepened their bond and allowed them to continue enjoying the same activities together, only now with a stronger, more open connection.