WASHINGTON – A parenting blogger urges moms and dads to speak with their children about transgender identity in the wake of Olympian and reality TV star Bruce Jenner’s public revelation that he identifies as a woman.
Jenner spoke about his life and his decision to transition to a woman in an interview Friday on ABC that was watched by almost 17 million people.
Leslie Morgan Steiner, who blogs on ModernMom.com and is a WTOP contributor, says the interview gives parents an opportunity to discuss the complicated issues of sexuality and gender identity with their children.
“The reason you have to talk to your kids about it is that everybody’s talking about it. And they’re talking about it at school, on the playground, everywhere,” Morgan Steiner tells WTOP. “If you don’t get your kids accurate information that fits with your family’s views, they’re going to get other information.”
Children may worry less about their own gender identity and more about their parents’ gender identity especially if the family has experienced disruptions from divorce or a troubled marriage. Parents need to reassure their children they will still be there for them, she says.
Even Jenner’s children, most of whom are adults, worried they’d lose a dad.
“I love that he said to them ‘no matter who I am, you can still call me dad’,” Morgan Steiner says.
Jenner spoke openly and sincerely on camera and seems to be similarly transparent with his children. He’s seems to be accepting of himself, Morgan Steiner says.
“It’s a great message for any parent to show that you accept yourself and that you love yourself. Because then it says to your kids that what they do and are is OK too.”
