Following a first public appearance at the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast last week, Jeff and Hillary Whittington have become a YouTube sensation, posting their story to the site featuring their five year old daugher, Ryland.
When Ryland was very young, her parents were devastated to discover that she was deaf. After cochlear implant surgery, however, Ryland was able to eventually hear the sound of per parent’s voices, and her own. And shortly thereafter, according to her parents, Ryland not only heard her voice, but found it as well.
Early on, Ryland’s parents began to notice that their daughter was a tomboy. Over time, they say, it became more than simply a rough and tumble exterior. One day, Jeff and Hillary say, Ryland told them that “when the family dies, I will cut my hair so I can be a boy.” We are also told the child expressed a deep sadness and shame, asking “why did God make me this way?”
After consulting “experts”, Ryland’s parents decided that she was transgender, and began to “slowly transition” her to him. Ryland had his hair cut short. He became an older brother, not sister.
At the Harvey Milk breakfast, Ryland appeared before the gathered crowd to read a letter.
My name is Ryland Michael Whittington. I am a transgender kid. I like to play with transgender kids. I am six. I am a cool kid. My sister’s name is Brittany. I was a girl, now I’m a boy. My mom and dad are going to let me be who I want to be. I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my whole life. Thank you to my parents, Hillary and Jeff. And thank you to Harvey Milk for helping the world be a better place.
Ryland’s parents are adamant that this was not their doing, and not the result of parenting style or pressured choices. Progressive parenting, however, can certainly be observed. (Even in the letter, notice the first name usage.) The parents definitely endorsed, if not directly encouraged, the child’s interest in the behavior, activities, and clothing choices that are traditionally male, as shown in the video.
Ryland’s parents looked into the statistics of the pain that transgender individuals can face in their lives, including the high instance of suicide among people who identify with a gender not their own. They also claim to have learned that most people realize their “true gender” between the ages of 3 and 5. To repeat that, Ryland’s parents believe that children between the ages of three and five years old know enough about themselves and the world around them to explore and recognize their gender identification.
Hollywood and the progressive liberal culture in general mock Christian or traditional upbringing as being “brainwashing”. They make movies deriding Christian summer camp as indoctrination, with children much older than Ryland. They protest adoption by Christian parents under the same logic. But that same progressive mentality does not apply in this case. And so Ryland at five years old is allowed the a choice that has some degree of finality and which will certainly impact the entire rest of his life and every other decision ever made by or for him.
Progressive liberals are quick to celebrate and embrace the decision made for Ryland by his parents. They celebrate because they believe it is tolerant and loving and nonjudgmental. Whether it is wise, prudent, or age-appropriate seems to be something Ryland’s parents at least researched and considered, and which the celebratory left cheerleaders clearly do not. Because the major life choice being made in Ryland’s case is one they admire. The same is not true of a child who recognizes and accepts their need for God, or “identifies” their “true faith.”
Isn’t that interesting.