John goes under knife to become Julie

04 May 2004

A Hutt Valley boy was given hormone treatment from the age of 14 to become a
girl and is now, four years later, planning to go under the knife to
complete the process.

Wainuiomata boy John was the youngest New Zealander to undergo the
treatment, usually reserved for adults who are absolutely sure about their
need to change their sex, it was reported on TV3's 60 Minutes programme.

The boy, now called Julie, had needed his mother's permission to go ahead
with the treatment after seeing a psychiatrist at age 13.

"A lot of boys would mistake me for a girl and I was pretty much outcast, I
didn't fit in anywhere and I found that boys gave me a really hard time
because I was supposed to be a boy but I didn't act like one and I didn't
look like one. It brought on a lot of ridicule and bullying," she told 60
Minutes.

Julie's mother June said her son had always behaved like a girl and her
younger sister said John had always behaved like a big sister.

June agreed to the hormone treatment to stop the onset of male puberty and
for the child to be given oestrogen to attain female features including
breasts.

She said she felt there was no choice but to help Julie be herself.

On mufti day at Wainuiomata College, John came out as Julie to schoolmates.
It did not go down well.

"The flak I got was unbelievable ... it was really, really bad."

However, school administration accepted and supported her and she went on to
play in girls' sports teams.

Now studying fashion in Wellington, the 18-year-old is saving the $20,000
she needs for a sex change operation.

Julie's story comes as controversy rages over the Tasman about a landmark
decision by an Australian family court to allow a 13-year-old girl to become
a boy.

The Australian court ruling is the first time legal approval has been given
for a child in that country who is biologically one sex to begin to change
to the other.

Transsexual MP Georgina Beyer said she thought the Government should fund
sex change operations.

"The money really should not be the major issue. The quality ... should be
what you go for," she told TV3 news.

There was funding for hormone therapy and a feasibility study was before
government regarding operations but was yet to be considered.

"Without the operation, transgender people like myself would never feel
complete. You'd never feel like you were truly a woman or you truly are the
person you are meant to be," Ms Beyer said.

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© Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2004