My Kid Is Transgender?!
I cut off my breasts at 18, took testosterone for 4 yrs, and now live with a deep voice & facial hair I can’t undo. Kids need love, not scalpels and hormones they’ll regret.
Overview
Mikayla Silverthorn, a detransitioned woman who took testosterone from 18 and had chest surgery, speaks to parents whose children say they are trans. She urges calm, curiosity and unconditional love while firmly advising against rushing into hormones or surgery, emphasising that saying “no” to medical transition is not hate if paired with support.
Full Video Summary
In this video, Mikayla Silverthorn—who was born female, began masculinizing hormones on her 18th birthday, lived as a trans man for about four years, and has now been detransitioned for roughly two and a half years—speaks directly to parents whose children have announced they are transgender. Drawing on her own experience of chest surgery and prolonged testosterone use (which left her with a deep voice and facial hair), Mikayla stresses that the very first step is to make sure the child feels loved. She urges parents to ask themselves whether they hug their child, tell them they are appreciated, and actively spend time with them, arguing that many kids pursue transition in search of love and validation. When a child comes out, Mikayla reminds parents that the child is likely terrified—worried about being rejected, ridiculed, or thrown out—so the initial parental reaction should be calm and curious rather than explosive. She recommends gently asking questions such as “Where did you learn about being transgender?” and requesting to see the videos or websites that influenced the child, all in an effort to understand the full picture. While openness is encouraged, Mikayla is equally clear that parents are not obligated to agree with every step their child requests. She explicitly states she would not support a child asking to “cut off” body parts or begin hormone regimens without careful discussion, emphasizing that hormones are “serious” and can permanently affect fertility. On the practical front, Mikayla says parents should allow social expression—clothing, makeup, or a chosen name—without immediate legal changes, and should insist on therapy and a waiting period before any medical interventions. She underscores that saying “no” to hormones or surgeries does not make a parent hateful, provided the refusal is paired with ongoing love and support. Even if an adult child later chooses to transition after leaving home, Mikayla insists the parent’s duty is to continue loving them, comparing it to loving a child who might end up in prison: love, once given, cannot simply be withdrawn. Finally, she addresses parents who already feel they have “lost” a son or daughter, acknowledging the grief that can accompany a child’s transition while reiterating that love remains the most important response. Mikayla closes by inviting coherent questions in the comments and reiterating her central message: parents can protect their children from irreversible medical decisions without shaming or abandoning them, and the child’s need to feel heard, seen, and loved is paramount regardless of anyone’s stance on transgender issues.