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Norman Spack, MD
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The following letter was sent to Norman Spack, MD, of Endocrinology.
Dear
Dr. Spack,
I appreciate that you are addressing issues of transgender children and want to share my perspective as an adult transgender woman. I had struggled with shame, deep depression and thoughts of suicide for most of my life because of my gender conflict — which I have been aware of since my earliest thoughts.
It was only much later that I was able to resolve this debilitating issue. I followed the standards of care and have fully transitioned from male to female. Today, I am free from that tension which would indeed have driven me to end my life; I could not live otherwise. Even if I had I lived in shame and fear and with a deep unhappiness, my condition was to the point where I had no quality of life, no joy in life.
It would have been so much better to have had the resources like the ones you are making available for young people and their parents. I believe it would have saved me so much pain and distress. I know there are those who are critical of your efforts to help young transgender people. People like us, and especially the young ones who struggle through childhood and puberty with such hurt, really need that care.
Thank you.
— Anonymous
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