MERMAIDS AND ME.
“I can definitely say that without Mermaids, I wouldn’t be at the stage I am today,” 18-year-old Ethan says of the the leading UK charity for gender diverse and transgender children and teenagers. “For kids and their families, it can really be an isolating time, so having such a friendly charity can make a real difference.”
Like many, Ethan’s journey of self-discovery has been a lengthy one, and hasn’t quite reached its finale. After spending much of his school years between both the boy and girl groups, their then same-sex attraction opened them up to the different identites of the LGBTQ experience. And with that, their first real understanding of who they are – and what label to use.
“Being in a same-sex relationship gave me a safe excuse to explore a more masculine role in society, which I loved,” he explains. “I was slowly learning more and more about identities in the LGBTQ group, and came across a social media post about a trans male. The light turned on and my prayers were answered – this was me. I am a boy, a trans boy.”
And while Ethan’s new identity took time and education for all, his mother Lisa knew the journey would be worth it. “The depression Ethan suffered during the earl y transition and the awful relationship he was in, I wanted to shut my eyes, scream
