A couple who appeared on This Morning explained how they’re raising their four-year-old child as a ‘person’ rather than a boy.
Star Cloud’s parents Nikki and Louise Draven said they want him be able to explore ‘both sides’ of the spectrum and to decide his gender by himself when he is older.
The boy’s biological mother, Nikki, identifies as both male and female, and Star refers to her as ‘dad’, although Louise, who is transitioning to female is Star’s biological father.
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Speaking on This Morning, Nikki said:
Basically he knows biologically he’s a boy but we don’t want him to have the constrains of a gender yet. We want him to explore both sides of the spectrum and then decide when he’s older.
Eamonn Holmes, who was interviewing the couple, alongside Ruth Langsford, asked if they’re creating problems for him, by referring to him as a boy.
Louise answered:
I think it’s a case of allowing him to express himself. It’s very common these days for men to walk around in salmon shirts, or some like to call it pink. By wearing that salmon shirt it doesn’t mean ‘oh I’m feeling very feminine today’, no, it’s just a case of, you’ve picked out a shirt that matches your outfit.
Ruth asked the couple how everything would work when their son starts school later this year and asked if they were ‘concerned’ it could set him up for a ‘little bit of interest’ from the other kids.
Nikki said:
He can say if he’s a boy or a girl, we don’t say ‘you can’t say that’, he can say that whenever he wants.
What we say is, ‘do what you want’, basically, as long as you’re safe. We know when he goes to reception that it could form interest. We’ve sat down with his school and said ‘look he’s going to come in a boys’ uniform’, obviously because he needs particular support in particular areas but we’ve compromised with him, rather than traditionally boys’ socks, he’s having pink socks.
Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to share their thoughts, some believed the Nikki and Louise were being unfair, others said they were simply giving their child freedom.
You want your child to be able to make their own decisions, and yet you're forcing the child to have no gender? #ThisMorning
— Nicole Whitlock (@evildollhouse) August 15, 2017
#ThisMorning as much as I agree with transgender etc. This is crazy let the kid live then let him choose who he wants to be.
— IWANTBREAD (@screamobeast) August 15, 2017
The boys parents should let the child choose who he wants to be. You cannot force a child to be something you want. #thismorning
— Emma Louise Delaney (@Emma_LouiseMSD) August 15, 2017
Basically they are just giving the boy more labels. Just let him be and do what he wants without adding confusion to it. #ThisMorning
— SarahCottom (@CottomSarah) August 15, 2017
Disgusted in people's views of gender fluidity.They aren't child abusers nor 'wacko nutjobs'.Just givin their child the freedom #thismorning
— Yasmin B (@yasbanks) August 15, 2017
If the child isn't happy as the gender they were born THEN the child could follow the same route of their parents? #ThisMorning
— Lauren (@ickle_L) August 15, 2017
He was born a boy, let him be a boy. If later in life he decides he'd rather be female then that's his choice. #ThisMorning
— Kimberley? (@kimberley_x_) August 15, 2017
#ThisMorning You can be a boy AND a person or a girl AND a person. They are not mutually exclusive. "Opening up the question". #facepalm.
— paul sargent (@gentlequidity) August 15, 2017
Finally, and most importantly, Louise said:
We’re happy as long as he’s happy, healthy and safe.
Afterall, that’s what matters.