Childhood Gender Diversity: A Natural Variation in Human Development

When children enter this world, the adults greeting them have many assumptions already in place about their future. If the child has a penis, projections about masculinity-driven biological and societal experiences prevail, if the child does not have a penis, a femininity-driven future is imagined with regard to biological development and social opportunities.
But in approximately 1.5-3% of families with a transgender child, those projected futures may not be in the cards, because their child simply does not identify with the gender role assigned to them based on their genitalia. In fact, enforcement of those gender expectations may cause the child profound distress. This is the world of a transgender child and their families.

Jenn Burleton is the founder and Exec Dir of TransActive Gender Center, a national provider of services to transgender and gender diverse children, youth and their families. After a 30-year career as a music industry professional, Jenn has returned to the work she literally feels she was born to do…advocating for children and youth who transcend societal gender stereotypes and expectations.

Tracy Culbreath has a passion for conflict resolution that began after pursuing her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Central Florida in Interpersonal Organizational Communication. In 2014 Tracy graduated from the Univ of Baltimore with a Master’s of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Management. Tracy is an Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator at the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO). Tracy also serves as a conflict coach, mediator, and promotes conflict resolution processes through trainings, outreach initiatives, and continuing education for conflict resolution practitioners.