Trans Teen Comes Out To His Class In Amazing Speech

Too often, when we hear about transgender young people, we hear stories of sadness — depression, bullying, suicide. Those stories, while real and important, can overshadow some amazing signs of how our culture is moving towards greater acceptance of all gender identities. Stories like this one, about a 13-year-old boy named Tom Sosnik. Sosnik recently came out as trans to his 6th grade class in a moving speech. “All of sixth grade,” he says, “I struggled with my gender identity, and I am now embracing my truth. For a while, I dismissed the fact that I hated my body. I pretended to be content with what I was assigned until, at a certain point, I broke.”  “I am no longer me,” he goes on. “I never really was, and now I stand before in my true and authentic gender identity... I stand before you as a 13-year-old boy.”  The eloquence and self-knowledge with which this young person confronts his own internal search for selfhood and truth is unbelievably moving — as is the empathy, openness, and frankness with which he addresses his classmates. “If there is something you want to say, I’m happy to talk with you," Tom continues, "and I really hope that you all will support my decision to embark on a harder route in life as the boy I truly am. Any form of support will be received with much gratitude.”