Eleven-year-old Youngest In Australia To Undergo TG Therapy

[BRISBANE, AUS] - An eleven-year-old in Brisbane has become the youngest person in Australia to embark on gender reassignment.

The youth, whose name is being withheld has begun taking hormones in the second phase of the male-to-female transition.

The hormones will that will stop facial hair growth and allow her to eventually develop breasts.

She has chosen a new female first name and has the support of her parents and school. Last year, in the first part of her transition, she began letting her hair grow long and wearing girl's clothing. But, even with the support of the school administration, her fellow students have not been so understanding.

She suffered months of verbal taunts, abuse and assault and has dropped out. Her parents are now considering other options such as home schooling.

"It's not like I have chosen this for myself, I have lived my whole life feeling that something is not right and all I want is to live a normal life," s he said.

"The entire process has been painful and difficult . . . I wouldn't want to put anyone through what I'm going through.

"Life would be so much easier if I didn't have to do this."

In addition to the hormone therapy, she is undergoing physiological testing a prerequisite for the gender altering surgery she hopes to have in about three years.

Her mother said the family has received understanding and support from the local Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

"We love our child and we want to do what's right, we want her to have a happy life," she said.

"The suicide rate amongst transgenders is so high (43 per cent of transgenders in Australia have committed suicide or have made an attempt) and I don't want a dead child."