Monica Helms wrote earlier this month about how proud she is of her sons Bryan and Robert, who will be giving a workshop at IFGE 2008, and shared this anecdote:
Bryan appeared to be okay with my transition, not feeling uncomfortable being seen with me in public. I remember one Saturday we were in Home Depot getting supplies for large lizard enclosure he wanted me to help him build. I stood in the long paint line to get a specific color, while he and his friend rushed around the store finding parts we would need.
When Bryan found some hinges for the enclosure, he came up to me and said, “Dad, dad. I think these will work.”
“Sure, Bryan. I think they will, too.” Then, I looked around and other shoppers were staring at me. “Ah, Bryan. Maybe while we are out in public, you can call me ‘Monica’?”
“No Problem.”
Bryan and Robert came through those early years a lot less scathed then others I have heard of. And, in spite of the courage they have shown over the years, they will be stepping it up a notch in a couple of weeks when they attend the International Foundation of Gender Education’s yearly conference in Tucson, April 2nd to the 5th. Not only will they be attending one of the premier transgender conferences in the country, but they will be giving a workshop with Monica Canfield-Lenfest, a member of Children of Lesbian and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE.) Her father also transitioned as an MtF transsexual. The workshop is titled, “Children of Transgender Parents.”
Monica Canfield-Lenfest, Bryan Hogge, and Robert Hogge will give their workshop on Friday, April 4, at 9:15 a.m. They are just three of over eighty presenters at this year’s IFGE conference.
