Jayden, 6, Queens, NYC
Jayden, 6, Queen’s NYC
Happy things are Swimming, riding my bike, playing with my friends, art school. Sad things are Marcos and Nas, they died. they were cats. When my friends leave on a playdate when something ends that I'm enjoying. If something that I like breaks.
There's no difference between boys and girls. I like being a boy because I like jeans and button-downs, and I love suits because I like the vest and the pants with fancy shoes and looking handsome.
When people learned I was a boy, I felt proud and happy because I got to be myself.
I don't know how I knew I am a boy. I don't know how I'm not a girl either. It felt like something was wrong even though I don't have the words. Now I know the feeling of being a boy, it's better. If I had to go to school as a girl, and everyone called me by my birth name, I would feel uncomfortable and mad and disappointed and unhappy.
I love gender camp. It feels like I can just be myself. I know they'll accept me as I am. When I'm in other places, I have to worry because not everyone knows. It's different at the camp. They treat me nicely and they don't even ask about it. They don't care who you are, just that you're happy.
me- “What if the whole world were like that? I would love my life!!! I wish.
I don't feel like I will change the world unless I'm famous, like for singing or dancing or art definitely. I can own my own Museum. “Jayden’s Art” and hang photographs that Annie takes. She's the best photographer that I know.
For people who don't know anyone who is transgender, I would tell them: don't be scared of what you don't know. Cisgender and transgender people are all people. You judge if you like someone on personality.
You shouldn't think anything different about people who are trans or cis. They're both people. They are still human beings. I think both kids and adults are good at understanding this.
Kids might not understand a lot, but not all grown-ups know everything either.
Jayden’s mom-
I think my child has always known he was a boy, but that it never dawned on him to mention it until he was 4 1/2 years old. There had been no real reason to fight over clothing, or hairstyles, or activities because I naturally followed his lead. I would buy him holiday dresses but I didn't force him to keep them on after I had taken a few photos. He knew shortly he'd be back in a tank and shorts so he humored me. I honored his fascination with male superheroes despite all the powerful female figures I'd tried to introduce. I never forced or denied him participation in an activity based on gender. He had every freedom to be the kind of girl he wanted to be.