Identical male twin now a transgender girl

The Maine family has been supportive throughout their son’s transition from Wyatt to Nicole, now a 14-year-old transgender girl who is also an identical twin to brother Jonas. While the two siblings share identical genetic makeup, the family has come forward with their story to help other families understand the complexities surrounding a child’s inclination toward becoming the opposite sex.

The Boston Globe interviewed the Maine parents, Wayne and Kelly, to document their family’s journey with Wyatt’s transition to becoming Nicole. At age 9, Wyatt was struggling with his gender, and Wayne and Kelly sought the help of a psychological therapy clinic that helps young people understand and transition into their desired gender.

Two years into the program, his parents agreed to let him begin his transition into Nicole. The tween began hormone therapy at age 11.

“I wasn’t always on board,” Nicole’s father, Wayne Maines, told the Globe. “Kelly and I were not on the same page. My question was: What is this doctor doing? It scared me. I was grieving. I was losing my son.”

The hormone therapy will last through Wyatt’s pubescent years and can be reversed. When Nicole is 18, she will be eligible to receive gender reassignment surgery.

“In my experience, the patients just blossom physically and mentally when they get the hormones of the gender they affirm,” her doctor told the Globe. “It’s quite amazing. I feel good about Nicole and who she is and where she’s going.”

According to ABCNews.com, the Maines family sought to bring their story to light in an effort to help transgender people seek fair and equal treatment. Nicole is an activist, interested in transgender laws that promote equality for all, including the right to use the appropriate public restroom. The family has already had their share of legal troubles, and has since filed a lawsuit against the twins’ school.

“We sat down with our kids at the breakfast table when they were 9 and talked about fear, hate, evil and freedom of speech before sending them to school,” Wayne Maines wrote.

“I was very angry and sad to have to talk to our small children in this manner,” Nicole’s father added. “We also told them to keep their heads up, be proud and take care of each other and their friends. I am very proud of them both because they have not forgotten that lesson and they continue to help others whenever it is safe to do so.”