Ariel's Story | 'Growing Up Trans' | FRONTLINE

Like many young girls, 13-year-old Ariel loved Disney princesses when she was growing up. She even asked her family to call her by a different Disney princess's name every day: Cinderella. Belle. Snow White.

But for Ariel, her family’s willingness to call her by those names had special significance: she was born a boy. And at the time -- around age nine -- she was still presenting as a boy at school and in public, fearful of what the reaction of her peers might be if they knew she identified as a girl.

Ariel shares her story in "Growing Up Trans," a documentary coming to FRONTLINE (PBS) on June 30. The 90-minute special follows eight kids who are transitioning, ranging from ages 9 to 19 — and shows how a new generation of kids and their parents are navigating the changing and complicated world of gender and identity, with new medical options and at younger and younger ages.

Funding for FRONTLINE's YouTube channel is provided by the Knight Foundation. FRONTLINE is made possible by PBS and CPB. Major support is provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Park Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation and Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation.

[Thecatnipproject]

i honestly love the mentality of this parent. actually listening to their child how they feel and what they need. and making sure their overall mental health is peaking. not something you see often enough. as for me im not trans. nut im an ace kid who's willing to throw himself into the line of fire fighting for them. as for me when it comes to the topic of gender expressions the first thing that comes to mind is a u.s delta force ranger from black hawk down a republican guard tank commander from desert storm or the winter soldier. plus if in named after a war hero in my family i cant change my name it's an honor to be named after my grandfather who served in the air force during world war 2. when i was a kid my parents deliberately sheilded me from the trans community especially my moms family my dad was just following orders. i watched the fully documentary and it shows their parents saying as long as my child is happy im happy. and im here thinking to myself why didn't my parents take this into consideration when i was a kid? i mean come on this is your child god dammit. its not about the family name its not about grand kids its not about tradition . its about their overall happiness and mental health because thats the bottom line here. and what matters most. her family literally they put such a burden on me for an already dying tradition. and yet i was pressured into things that i wanted nothing to do with. even my dads family knew i needed none of this to survive ergo the norm. i mean come on i could have been born trans for crying out loud anything could have happened. but i digress if my moms influence was coming from a very religious family then they sure as hell didn't promise to love me unconditionally the moment i was brought into this world.

[wishiwasawoman]

As someone who grew up dealing with the exact same feelings as Ariel, but was to scared to talk to anyone, I know exactly how this girl feels.  I did not follow my heart or my feelings back then and I struggle with these issues and feelings every single day now at 45.  All I ever wanted to be was a normal girl and feel as and do the things that normal girls did.  These feelings consume my life now and I truly believe had if I was given the gift that the children on this show were given, I would be "Normal Woman", living my life like any other woman out there.

[mariatapanes]

SHE HAS A WAY OF REALLY EXPRESSING HERSELF...13GOING ON

[wasie]

Wish I was 13 again would have been such a supportive and caring friend for her as she grows into the women she always dreamed

[aichejaye]

Sometimes Mother Nature screws up. Ariel should have definitely been born a female.

[marcello]

Ariel is so cute, beautiful girl. When she bevome an adult, she'll be a beautiful woman. God bless her

[zmanzoran]

this thing is a creation of his parents and grandparents...the pictures of this boy dressed up as a little girl and mostly as a princess, starting at, what looks like, the age of 2...2 year olds don't have feeling as being a different sex...this boy grew up being a princess doll to dress up by his mother and grandmother....the mother and grandmother should face a court ordered mental health evaluation and this boy should immediately removed from his sick mother and grandmother and given appropriate mental health care....it is emotional child abuse, what the mother and grandmother did to this boy...where was child protective services in all this? did no one in this boy life see the emotional child abuse that was taking place for 13 years. disgusting.

[lhpiratzky]

This is ridiculous. Cut your hair IAN, suck it up and accept the fact you are a BOY. How the heck could you possibly know you wanted to be trans at age 11? Somebody's been coaching him. Poor parenting,

[itsmariana]

I don't get it?.. she's a girl? she was a guy before??? she is a girl turning into a guy??? Im so confused?!!

[-mw]

the mother should never or gm encourage this .if this kid is not real masculine as a male oh well, we all have crosses to bear .