young trans girl to be institutionalized in Germany

[Guest Jo-88]

Im not sure if there are some other mental health concerns here that have led to this decision, but if it is being made solely because she is transgendered then this is absolutely unacceptable. Read the article for more details... prepare to be upset.

http://www.examiner.com/lgbt-relationships-in-national/german-transgender-girl-to-be-institutionalized-by-german-courts

[Guest KimberlyF]

Kim Petras was at the time one of the youngest people in the world to start female hormones in Germany. She had SRS at 16. I don't think the German gov is rounding people up. I'll wait till the whole story comes out.

[VickySGV]

I am thinking that the situation is much more benign than is being reported here. Instututionalized is something of a broad term that could mean many things. A solid locked ward with physical restraints to force her to mend her ways and become a boy is not as likely as having her in some protective juvenile care facility such as a group home or minimum security children's health facility. There is a divorce going on here, and the real concern of the courts may in fact be a fear of inter family kidnapping or other shenanigan on behalf of either parent. There may also be allegations of abuse of the child that need investigation and resolution. Too many generalities going on here to give us a reasonable story of what is happening. WPATH had a number of German doctors and psychologists attending its conference in Atlanta GA last fall, including one keynote speaker. The country is not the problem child that many US states are in terms of gender sensitivity.

[JenniferB]

I believe there is a thread here on this topic. I just can't find it.

I find this very upsetting. This girl's life may be ruined without even a chance to live it. I can't remember the last time I've felt this upset. And then to put her in a foster home after she's been so called "deprogrammed".

Jenny

[Guest Jo-88]

Kim Petras was at the time one of the youngest people in the world to start female hormones in Germany. She had SRS at 16. I don't think the German gov is rounding people up. I'll wait till the whole story comes out.

no definitely not, I think it stems from a custody battle between her parents who are in the process of a divorce... there may be something else going on... But the way the article makes it seem is that the parents were deemed unfit to keep her because they allowed her to explore her trans feelings. If thats the case this is absurd!!

[Guest Jo-88]

btw Vicky I also don't think its the country's at fault here... I always thought germany was actually very progressive when it came to trans issues, my opinion hasn't changed. I still want to stay tuned on this one, the article could very well be sensationalizing things, but eventually the truth will come out... for better or for worse.

[Guest MiraJ]

OMG ...... all i can think of is cuzz words, but i prolly wont be able to get this to be posted.

Thats super upsetting..... I am ashamed to be a german........ shakes my head. OMG REALLY.

Who they think they are to decide that anyways???????

One of the MANY reasons i left that country, stuff like that is what they do there, they dont care about ppl anymore.......

Mira

PS: I go and apply for US citzenship now. ggrrrrrr

[Ravin]

In Germany, parents do not have as much autonomy as they do in the United States in how they raise their children. I'd be willing to bet the government is more willing than most American states to step in and intervene in cases like this where divorcing parents have very different ideas of how to raise their child. That doesn't mean they're siding with the father (or the mother, for that matter).

Wouldn't live there and raise children myself, except maybe under SOFA protection while working for the U.S. Government.

[Guest KimberlyF]

I know US citizens living in Germany right now. Their kids are attending German schools. It is common for the majority of kids dealing with any type of depression to be taken from their parents for inpatient treatment/school. Even some US kids.

Is there a chance a trans girl w/parents going through divorce could be depressed?

[Guest Talon]

My reaction to this story was that it is very wrong to put this girl in a facility when she is a happy and healthy child already and living full-time as a girl!

That being said, Germany is not a bad place and living right above them and having family there, we do not hear a lot of anti-trans stuff out of there - at all!

If you feel like it, you can sign the petition against having her institutionalized here :

http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-of-berlin-stop-the-institutionalization-of-a-11-year-old-transexual?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=share_with_facebook_friends

Cheers,

Talon.