A year and a half ago, our now 10-year-old, who goes by the name Cha, matter of factly announced that they identify as non-binary, that neither male nor female felt like an accurate account of their personhood. Our response was straightforward and affirming, "Okay, thanks for letting us know." We worked out the details of pronouns and names and that was that. Emails were sent to school and extended family, there was a Facebook post. We sought trans affirming medical care. Life went forward.

It was July 21, 2021, and my son, Brandon, had just turned fifteen two weeks before. As I sat in the pediatric therapy office and listened to what I already knew, what I had been fighting for with doctors and insurance red tape for what seemed like forever, I was in anger and disbelief at just how badly the entire system had failed my child.