This Trans Teenager & His Mom Are Changing The Conversation

Every episode, The Bodcast tells a different story about living in a marginalized body, in America, in 2017. This week, we’re talking to Elijah, a trans teenager bringing change to his school in Massachusetts. He’ll tell us all about the unique challenges of growing up trans, and what it's like to live in a body that's not necessarily like any of his classmates. His mom will also tell us about the unique, and often endearing, elements of raising a trans kid.

According to an estimate by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, one in every 137 American teenagers under the age of 18 identifies as transgender — and you can bet they’re all facing their own challenges. They're all fighting different fights. They're all claiming different victories. And they're all paving the way for the next generation of trans kids. They are teenagers in bodies that aren't necessarily like any of their classmates, and the support of their family and community is crucial in ensuring these teens stay visible and thrive.

Elijah's story is one of many, but it gives some important insight on what happens when the people and institutions surrounding trans kids offer support and encouragement instead of restrictions — and that includes open and candid conversations about, yes, prosthetic penises. Hear from Elijah and his mom, Laura, below.