Unhappy as a boy, Kim became youngest ever transsexual at 12

[dasaybz]

A boy of 12 is believed to have become the world's youngest sex change patient after convincing doctors that he wanted to live the rest of his life as a female.

The boy - originally called Tim, but now known as Kim - has started to receive hormone treatment, in preparation for the operation that will eventually complete the sex change.

Tim was diagnosed as a transsexual two years ago, when doctors and psychiatrists concluded that his claims to be "in the wrong body" were so deeply felt that he required treatment. The therapy involves artificially arresting male puberty, with a series of potent hormone injections before the administration of female hormones to initiate the development of features such as breasts.

advertisementNow aged 14, and officially registered as a female, Kim looks like a typical girl of her age. She dresses in fashionable clothes, has long blonde hair and blue eyes and dreams of moving to Paris to become a fashion designer. Her parents, who initially assumed their son was going through a temporary phase, eventually grew accustomed to seeing him as a girl.

The family's full identity has not been made public. But Kim's father, known as Lutz P. – speaking to the German publications Der Spiegel and Stern – said that as a child, the boy liked to play with Barbie dolls, enjoyed wearing dresses and, from the age of two, insisted that he was a girl. "We saw Kim as a girl, but not as a problem. Our life was surprisingly normal."

Kim reacted badly to the first signs of puberty, he said. "At that stage we realised that she was terrified of growing facial hair and her voice breaking."

Kim's parents consulted psychiatrists across Germany. Some condemned their support of their child's desire to undergo a sex change, or suggested that Kim be kept under observation in a closed psychiatric ward. But others agreed that the child should receive therapy, because growing up to be a man would have damaged her personality.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/28/wkim28.xml

[dasaybz]

He should have let his balls drop a little bit before making this decision.

[г]

'Wait til' your father gets home and finds out about this, young man!'

[dasaybz]

'Wait til' your father gets home and finds out about this, young man!'

errrrr, young lady

[Buffalo1]

well theres no goin back now. Wheres the baby gonna gestate, a box?
-Monty Python

[TRIPLE P]

Isn't there a way to tell if you're a male or female?

If someone has male chromosomes then shouldn't there be an age requirement of consent in order to chop of someones package for what amouts to cosmetic reasons?

[dasaybz]

There's a way to tell if you're a male or female for sure.

Check out your unit. If it's there, your a dude, if it aint, your not a dude.

[twosheds]

Genetic, biological and social gender are three different kind of shoes. For example, you can be genetically male, but biologically female, because your body lacks the receptors for the corresponding hormones.

Gender is not just "cosmetic". A gender change is a cure that should not be barred from a 12-year old, if it is clear that it's the right thing to do. Otherwise, you force the kid to go through hell during puberty.

[TRIPLE P]

Genetic, biological and social gender are three different kind of shoes. For example, you can be genetically male, but biologically female, because your body lacks the receptors for the corresponding hormones.

Gender is not just "cosmetic". A gender change is a cure that should not be barred from a 12-year old, if it is clear that it's the right thing to do. Otherwise, you force the kid to go through hell during puberty.

Thats kinda my point..... how can it be clear if its the right thing to do if genetically and biologically the kid is a male?

Now, i don't know if thats true or not....but you'ed think that that would be a requisite in order to perform the surgery before they are 18.....

[г]

Check out your unit. If it's there, your a dude, if it aint, your not a dude.

What if you've got a Whizzinator on ?

[twosheds]

Thats kinda my point..... how can it be clear if its the right thing to do if genetically and biologically the kid is a male?

Now, i don't know if thats true or not....but you'ed think that that would be a requisite in order to perform the surgery before they are 18.....

"Tim was diagnosed as a transsexual two years ago, when doctors and psychiatrists concluded that his claims to be "in the wrong body" were so deeply felt that he required treatment."

Genetics (XX, XY) don't say much here. I think it is pretty a clear cut case.

18 is an arbitrary age anyway. Kids know more than we give them credit for. I've know I'm gay since I was 6. I just didn't know a word for it yet.

[г]

I just didn't know a word for it yet.

Wurstschmuggler ? ;)

[mighty peace warrior]

i think at least waiting until after puberty would be smart.

[twosheds]

Wurstschmuggler ? ;)

Schwanzlutscher. ;)


I don't think it's good to let a transsexual go through puberty if it can be avoided.

[mighty peace warrior]

Schwanzlutscher. ;)


I don't think it's good to let a transsexual go through puberty if it can be avoided.

big decision for a 12 year old to make. I have an almost 12 year old, and I have a hard time picturing him or his friends making such a major choice. sometimes what you think when you are 12 and what you think later are much different.

[twosheds]

big decision for a 12 year old to make. I have an almost 12 year old, and I have a hard time picturing him or his friends making such a major choice. sometimes what you think when you are 12 and what you think later are much different.

I know it's hard to imagine. We are happy with our gender. But some people aren't and it's something that goes very deep.

A kid shouldn't make such a decision, but if doctors diagnose transsexuality - carefully - then an operation should be taken into account.

[mighty peace warrior]

I know it's hard to imagine. We are happy with our gender. But some people aren't and it's something that goes very deep.

A kid shouldn't make such a decision, but if doctors diagnose transsexuality - carefully - then an operation should be taken into account.

what do you mean diagnose?

[twosheds]

Transsexuality can be diagnosed. Like other illnesses.

I've read the german article about the girl. Her wish is to be operated with 16, but for legal reasons she can't be operated until she's 18. Until then, she'll receive a hormon treatment that will stop her puberty and will make her grow breasts, but the procedure can still be reversed.

So it's not like she's going under the knife with 13.

[TRIPLE P]

"Tim was diagnosed as a transsexual two years ago, when doctors and psychiatrists concluded that his claims to be "in the wrong body" were so deeply felt that he required treatment."

Genetics (XX, XY) don't say much here. I think it is pretty a clear cut case.

18 is an arbitrary age anyway. Kids know more than we give them credit for. I've know I'm gay since I was 6. I just didn't know a word for it yet.

I guess I just don't often give credit to people in the medical prosfession for performing due diligence.....

And I know 18 is an arbitrary age....but I use it because its the age on "legality" for lack of a better word.....

[Buffal0B1LLs_fan]

i think at least waiting until after puberty would be smart.

Scientifically, I'm not sure, but if you waited after puberty, the voice change in the male stays.

I knew a guy growing up in Buffalo, and one day last year or so, out of the blue the guy calls me up after like 20 years. We talk for about an hour or so catching up on old times, and then he tells me he's a she now. There was nothing they could do about the voice.

I agree waiting until 18 before the surgery.

[westphal]

If I ever meet "her," I hope she tells me about how she used to have a penis before...