Like a bird in a cage. The story of Zay, from boy to girl.

Zay Crawford felt trapped in a boy’s body at a young age. With puberty fast approaching, she got an implant that suppressed the puberty process. This is the story of one family’s journey to acceptance and understanding of their 12 year-old daughter.The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Do you know any transgender people? What do you know about them and their transformations? 

Most people know very little. When people hear the word transgender images of badly dressed men in women clothes appear in many peoples minds. 

But what many people do not know or understand is that you can be born to appear male or female, but your brain contains the functions and structure of the opposing gender. 



Gender is so much more then just your sexual organs, your penis or vagina does not make you a man or a woman. 

Men and women aren't that different, but intact all human beings are equal in their capabilities physically, mentally emotionally. 

The human form is malleable and transformative. 

This must be celebrated. 

Like a beautiful butterfly coming out of its cocoon, transitions across gender should be celebrated, as people crossing the boundaries of male and female as a remarkable and extra ordinary journey. 

What a wonderful example of the beautiful rainbow that is the human form. 





Jason is a pilot, Chasilee a nurse. In 2002, they had a second child, a boy they called Isaiah, to join older brother Jeffrey. A relative nicknamed the baby Zay, and it stuck. Life went on. One day when Zay was about 2, the Crawfords watched a movie made from the Dr. Seuss classic "The Cat in The Hat." Not long after, Jason and Chasilee overheard the kids playing scenes from the movie in which Jeffrey was the little boy . . . and Zay was the little girl. "I remember thinking, 'What's going on here?' " Jason said. "That was something that was different to us. I didn't know what to think about it. Then, I don't know how, but Zay got a princess dress. It was blue. Zay wore holes in it."


Read more about Zay's story here: http://bit.ly/zaysstory

The TED talk mentioned in the film

Puberty is an awkward time for just about everybody, but for transgender teens it can be a nightmare, as they grow overnight into bodies they aren't comfortable with. In a heartfelt talk, endocrinologist Norman Spack tells a personal story of how he became one of the few doctors in the US to treat minors with hormone replacement therapy. By staving off the effects of puberty, Spack gives trans teens the time they need.

Further reading on gender: More on the rich tapestry of human gender: http://www.nature.com/news/sex-redefined-1.16943