FEMININITY FOR BOYS ONLY: We had twin boys – but at 18 months old one wanted to become a girl’: Father of transgender six-year-old on family’s battle to accept Joe becoming Lily.

Matt described how Lily showed signs of being transgender from 18-months-old and is now living as a girl. . . .

‘Mum and dad used to take them down to the shops to pick a magazine. Olly would get Thomas The Tank Engine, or more “boy” magazines. She [sic] picked something pink with fairies.

‘From the age of two she [sic] was drawn towards pink toys and babies. She [sic] asked for baby dolls and wanted girly fancy dress while Olly had a Batman outfit.’

And Matt explained that Lily’s ‘girlie’ behaviour continued when she [sic] went to nursery. . . .

‘We had a bit of a challenge getting friends and family to buying the Christmas and birthday presents she [sic] wanted.

‘My brother did say things like “Do I have to buy her [sic] a princess fancy dress outfit, can’t I buy her [sic] Lego?” . . .

In September, the Tavistock and Portman centre[, which specialises in “gender dysphoria,”] advised the parents that if she [sic] is still on the same path by the age of 11 or 12, hormone blockers will be prescribed which will stop the onset of male puberty.

There is the option of taking female hormones at age 16, and at 18 Lily can decide whether or not she [sic] will have surgery.

Just remember, when girls prefer fairies to trains and dresses to legos, that’s the result of patriarchal conditioning. But when boys do that, it’s totally natural, and so are the hormones and surgical procedures used to stunt his development and mutilate their bodies.