Trans 7-Year-Old Ruffles Georgia Feathers

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

September 15 2011 3:35 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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A 7-year-old is being denied use of a boys' bathroom by officials at a rural Georgia school district, even though his transgender father says his child, born female, identifies as male.

Known as "D," the child began exhibiting signs he was transgender at only 18 months, telling his father that he was a boy. Tommy Theollyn, 28, is the child's father, and he gave birth to "D" just a year before transitioning to male himself.

"D" encountered few problems when he attended a liberal Atlanta school, but when Theollyn moved the child to McIntosh County, some teachers were resistant to allowing "D" to use boys' facilities. After Theollyn met with the McIntosh school superintendent, the official threatened to call child protective services. Today, Theollyn plans to present the McIntosh school board with 40,000 signatures supporting "D" and his use of the boys' restroom. Read more here.