[Facebook Announcement]
I have contemplated a hundred different ways to make this huge announcement. I’ve thought about going subtle and just letting the questions fall where they fall; I’ve thought about going bold and loud. In the end, I decided to make the announcement the only way people would expect me to make an announcement……
I am proud to announce the birth of my daughter Naomi Suzanna born July 28, 2015 at the young age of 16 years, 6 months and 16 days.
Let me tell you the wonderful story of Naomi. Most of you will know Naomi by her former name Nathaniel Ray. I am proud to say that Nathaniel came out as a transgender female around the age of 7. Not knowing what the term transgender meant, he simply came to me one day and said that he wanted to start wearing dresses and be called Sara. We were immediately supportive but the subject kind of waned until Nathaniel was 13 and once again announced that he was born in the wrong body. This time Nathaniel was old enough to put into words exactly what he was experiencing. Again, we were immediately supportive and began researching hormone therapy, name changes, surgery, etc. There was a sea of information and Nathaniel was our dutiful Captain. It has been a long time since those early days and honestly it felt like this day would never come but we are proud to announce that Nathaniel has legally changed his name to Naomi Suzanna effective today.
While everyone who has known over the last couple of years has been incredibly supportive, I realize that there are still people that will not be able to accept this truth and perhaps will feel the need to blast our family for choosing to support my daughter Naomi. I have two requests for those naysayers ….. (1) Please educate yourself about what it means to be a transgender person. I would never argue and try to tell another person what to believe so if after you have educated yourself you still feel that you cannot support my family then I move on to request (2) which is unfriend me. I respect your decision and your beliefs so please respect mine enough to quietly just unfriend me. There is no need to blast me or my family; there is no changing our minds or waiting out a phase that may come to an end. Naomi has a better understanding of who she is than most adults I know.
For those of you who understand, love and support us, please join me in celebrating the birth of my long awaited daughter, Naomi. I am finally the proud mom of 2 daughters and 2 sons!