Transgender dad worries his daughter will face abuse from online bullies

A transgender dad who was born female has insisted he didn’t encourage his five-year-old daughter — born a boy — to live as a girl.

The transgender dad of a five-year-old girl who was born a boy has revealed his daughter’s gender change wish is the last thing he wanted for her.

Greg Rogers fears that although Jayden, who was born male, has been accepted by friends and teachers as a fashion-loving little girl — she could still face abuse from online trolls, The Sun reported.

Online bullies have already falsely claimed that Greg, 27, and partner Jody, 21, forced their child to live as a girl.

But the doting dad told the Mail On Sunday: “We haven’t encouraged Jayden to do this, despite what people think, and we are hurt at the suggestion.”

Jayden began living as a girl nearly a year ago and started wearing dresses and insisting on having her nails painted and growing long hair.

Greg Rogers, who transitioned from a female at 16, worries that male-born daughter Jayden will face a torrent of abuse from cruel online bullies. Picture: Andy Barr/The Sun

Jayden was born with partial deafness — meaning she struggled to communicate her feelings.

But after an operation to correct her hearing 11 months ago, Jayden immediately told how she wished she was a girl.

Greg, who has been a father to Jayden for three years since meeting partner Jody, said her first words since developing her speech were a plea to live as a female.

He said: “She developed speech and immediately started saying, ‘I hate wearing boys’ clothes and everything about being a boy.’

“At first, we thought it was probably just a phase but it’s been consistent ever since.

“She is adamant she’s a girl.”

But now the couple — who are not married but share the same surname — have been forced to protect her from cruel taunts online.

And worse still, some locals in their small town have suggested they move away after they were reported to the council — who found the Rogers to be a happy and loving family.

Jayden began living as a girl nearly a year ago and started wearing dresses and insisting on having her nails painted. Picture: Andy Barr/The Sun

Greg suffered abuse and his family’s disapproval after changing gender at the age of 16.

He had his breasts removed but is yet to undergo reassignment surgery on his genitalia.

But insisting that he had no part in encouraging Jayden to live as a girl, he said: “She has no idea that I’m transgender.

“Having been through this myself, I have conflicting emotions about her deciding she doesn’t want to be a boy any more.

“It’s not an easy life. People will always judge you and I don’t think there is a single transgender person on the planet who would push that on a child.”

Mum Jody, who was initially sceptical about Jayden’s decision, said: “I was naive.

“I didn’t think a child could be transgender and it isn’t until now, after speaking to other parents in our situation, that we realise it is more common than everyone thinks.”

Jayden is now on the waiting list for the Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow which offers a Young People’s Gender Service.

She is to receive counselling over the next few years as she is too young for medication or hormone treatment.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission