I don’t think I have ever heard my kid sound so happy

by Rob Howard

On Monday, Jon Ralston, who is a contributing editor to Politico, hosts “Ralston Live” on PBS, and is a frequent guest on MSNBC shows, published a loving post about his transgender son Jake, saying at the beginning, “When Maddy Ralston came into this world almost 21 years ago, it was love at first sight.”

On Monday, Maddy became Jake. Monday was a special day for both Jon and Jake Ralston. The Washington Post reports, “’It started off like any other Monday,’ Jake Ralston told The Washington Post in a phone interview early Tuesday morning. He chuckled. ‘It was kind of slow. I didn’t want to get out of bed and do 20-year-old things.’

“When Jake woke on Monday, he was still legally named ‘Madeline,’ Maddy for short. By the end of the day, Maddy would be Jake, and Jake would be trending on the Internet.”

According to Fusion.net, after the judge approved the change on the 20-year-old’s birth certificate, “officially changing his name from Madeline to Jake,” Jake called his dad. “A few hours later Jon wrote this moving blog post, titled ‘The Child I Love.’”

Ralston wrote about his child’s growth years: “She refused to wear the skirts in the school uniform catalogue, preferring the khaki pants. She became a full-fledged tomboy before high school. She was a stunning, blonde-blue-eyed kid, but she didn’t care. She would rather go sit for hours and fish at Sunset Park than go to the mall with other girls. She told me she wanted to be a boy.

“It’s just a phase, I figured. So many women told me stories of their tomboy days.”

He wrote about his thoughts and feelings, saying, “After all, the kid has been through a lot. Her mother had died. She had to switch schools. She had no idea who she was.

“But the truth was I had no idea. Or I was in denial.

“Slowly but surely, I have come to not just accept it but to embrace it. I have learned a lot about transgender issues through my job.

“Life is difficult as it is. But with so much ignorance out there breeding so much fear, so much visceral recoiling from the concept of transgenderism, I fear this will make Maddy’s life that much harder.

“So many people I know and respect spout off about the issue, on social media, even in person, because they don’t know about Maddy. They don’t know the reality. They don’t know, so I cut them slack.”

Ralston discusses his acceptance as Maddy began her transition to Jake, “I admit I sometimes still have a hard time with it all. I look around the house, see the pictures of me with my little girl and my eyes fill with tears. But those memories are forever, and Maddy told me not to take them down, that she cherishes those, too.

“Last year, Maddy began talking about transitioning, about having surgery. And about six months ago, Maddy began taking testosterone to begin the process of becoming who she really is.

“This week, Maddy went to court, bravely told a judge why she wanted to be a male and wanted her birth certificate changed, too. After the hearing, when it was finally real, when he called me, I don’t think I have ever heard my kid sound so happy. And he wanted the story told.”

Ralston concluded his post with, “When I get home later this week, I will see someone officially named Jake Ralston for the first time. And one thing I know for certain: It will be love at first sight.”

Read Jon Ralston’s love letter to his son Jake at www.ralstonreports.com/blog/child-i-love.

The Gayly – May 25, 2016 @ 4:45 p.m.