Today on Women's Magazine Kate welcomes Janna Barkin and Mere Abrams to talk about parenting transgender kids. Janna is the author of the book, He's Always Been My Son, which traces her family's journey in supporting and raising their transgender son, Amaya. Mere is a therapist and gender specialist in private practice and also Clinical Research Associate and Study Coordinator, at University of California at San Francisco, Child and Adolescent Gender Center. Join us for an in-depth conversation about best practices, the differences between sex, gender and sexual orientation, and how sexism affects girls' gender identity.
Check out Mere’s blog “On all things nonbinary gender.” Another great resource is https://www.genderspectrum.org/. A free transgender conference on the East coast is given every year by Gender Spectrum. Lots more information is on the internet and YouTube.
A small-town girl who grew into a big-city woman. I’m unapologetically passionate, and (for better or worse) always on a journey to be smarter, better, and more fly.
I’ve been addicted to writing ever since I learned how to scrawl my name in crayon back in the day. It’s been the easiest way for me to express myself throughout my life, but this blog is the first time I’ve been so open with my thoughts.
Bridget “Bee” Quammie is a healthcare professional, blogger, freelance writer, social media manager, and speaker. With a degree in Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario and Post-Graduate Certificate in Health Promotion from George Brown College, Bee has turned her passion for health into a career in mental health research, international health, and acquired brain injury work.
Bee started her personal blog, ‘83 To Infinity, in 2011. Focusing on areas around natural hair care, health & wellness, art & culture and more, ‘83 To Infinity has offered her the opportunity to write for digital publications such as Chatelaine, UPTOWN Magazine, For Harriet and The Huffington Post Canada. Bee was recently recognized by Black Enterprise as one of the “most impactful and successful voices in the online space,” is a 2013 Canadian Weblog Award nominee, and was the recipient of the Best Blogger Award at the 2014 Black Canadians Awards. After the birth of her daughter in 2014, Bee founded The Brown Suga Mama, a blog focused on motherhood from the perspective of a Black Canadian mom.
Bee has also taken her thoughts, words, and knowledge from behind the computer screen. She has been featured on Arise TV’s Our Take in New York City discussing international healthcare, and twice on TVO’s The Agenda With Steve Paikin, speaking on education & employment options for Canadian millennials and the presence of women in media. Her social media knowledge has enabled her to work with a variety of clientele to help maximize their digital presence, with great success. She was a speaker at the 2013 Blogging While Brown Conference, 2013 Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show, and at the 2013 Malvern Women’s Symposium, discussing global blogging, online resources for natural haircare, and personal branding through social media, respectfully. She also facilitates health and wellness workshops through the Have Faith In Healthy Living project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
’83 To Infinity’s motto is: “It’s never too late to learn something new, do something new, or be someone new,” and Bee uses her work to inspire and motivate others to embrace life’s journeys.
