Over 4 million people have viewed a video posted by a New Zealand mother about her daughter's decision to begin to transition to being a male, Mashable reports.
Milla Fabish has been diagnosed with having gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person's gender identity causes them psychological distress. In the video posted below, Milla's mother Renee likens the condition to having a male brain born in a female body.
From as young as two Milla would refer to herself as girl-boy -- a girl that liked boy things from very early on," she said. "Her gender assigned at birth does not align with how she feels inside -- Milla was born female but her brain identifies as male."
Although the responses to the video on Renee's Facebook page have been overwhelmingly positive, the reception of the video -- especially as regards Renee's willingness to allow Milla to transition at such a young age -- has been critical.
"No, no, no!" Helen Thomas replied. "Still a girl, and always will be. If this was a naturally occurring situation, that's how it would occur...naturally. Instead, we subject these children to hormones, surgery, pain to satisfy our own misguided agendas. Pray for these children, because only GOD can help them."
But as Vanessa Whatmough of the Royal Children's Hospital wrote, the "optimal time" to begin treating individuals with gender dysphoria is during early puberty, as numerous studies have demonstrated that "physical and mental health outcomes [begun then] are better for transgender individuals."
"International treatment guidelines for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria recommend a series of medical interventions that are initially fully reversible (Stage 1 treatment using medication to suspend puberty), through to partially reversible interventions (Stage 2 treatment using oestrogen or testosterone hormones) and finally irreversible surgical interventions in adulthood (after the age of 18 years)."
Milla's mother, Renee, has heeded this advice.
"We have no doubt in our minds that Milla is fully invested in her plight to be recognized as a boy -- the only thing that has changed for us is pronouns -- we support him wholeheartedly."
At the end of the video, Milla himself speaks, saying that "I have gender dysphoria. I feel like I'm in the wrong body. I'm having a really hard time at school at the moment. Kids tease me all the time. They call me 'shim,' 'gay girl,' and 'weirdo.' I just want people to accept me for who I am, and I'm lucky that I have an awesome family who support me 100 percent."
"I have decided I want to take the next step. From today, I want live and be known as a boy. I hope I have your support."
Watch the entire video via Facebook below.
