Local Woman's Transition Going Great, Mother's Unhinged Grief Notwithstanding

SPRINGFIELD - Two years after coming out as transgender and beginning her transition, 22-year-old Lily Johnson is thriving. She has a great job, a loving boyfriend, and a supportive circle of friends who embrace her for who she is. The only slight damper on Lily's joy? Her mother's unceasing, overwrought expressions of grief at the supposed "loss" of the son she never actually had.

"Mom's really been laying it on thick lately," Lily said with a rueful chuckle. "She keeps going on about how my transition is 'the very core of her suffering' and how the changes in my voice are 'the most agonizing part.' I'm like, chill Mom, it's just a little estrogen!"

Lily's mother, Karen Johnson, 50, has reportedly been "inconsolable" since her daughter began living as her authentic self. In a 1,234 word Substack post at pittparents.com entitled "Voices of Sorrow," Karen laments the "profound anguish" of watching her "son" transition into a "strange woman."1

"There are so many elements about my child—my daughter—no, my son!—that cause me immense pain and suffering," Karen writes in one particularly unhinged passage. "Her—excuse me, his—artificially softened skin, the fat that rests on his hips like the curves of a woman's figure, his breasts—larger even than his mother's!—that are now at risk for breast cancer—a condition he would probably never have had to consider, had those nefarious doctors never prescribed him those foul, harmful hormones."

Lily, meanwhile, reports feeling more comfortable and confident in her body than ever. "I mean, yeah, my skin is softer and I've got hips and boobs now. Everyone sees me for who I am, finally - that's kind of the point!" she said, rolling her eyes affectionately at her mother's melodramatics. "As for the breast cancer thing, I guess Mom missed the memo that trans women on HRT actually have lower rates of breast cancer than cis women.2 But why let facts get in the way of a good guilt trip or pity party?"

Throughout her lengthy screed, Karen repeatedly misgenders her daughter, referring to Lily as her "son" and "he/him" even as she begrudgingly acknowledges her transition. She also expresses her revulsion at Lily's "artificially altered" voice, describing it as belonging to a "vile, horrid creature" who has "overtaken" her son's body.

Lily, for her part, loves her new voice and delights in using it to belt out Ariana Grande songs at karaoke night with her friends. "I mean, it took some practice, but I think I sound pretty damn good these days," she said. "Certainly better than when I was trying to force myself into a baritone as a miserable, closeted teen. But sure, Mom, go off I guess."

Perhaps most concerning is Karen's insistence that she will "hold out hope" for her "son's" eventual return, vowing to "be there to support him" when "that cruel demon" - i.e. her own daughter - leaves him.

Lily is remarkably unfazed by her mother's vow to wait for her imaginary son to re-emerge. "I mean, she's going to be waiting a long-ass time," she laughed. "I am who I am, and that's not changing. If Mom wants to waste her one precious life pining for a dude who never existed, that's her prerogative I guess."

When reached for comment, Karen expressed her disappointment that the "mainstream media" is "enabling [her] son's delusion instead of investigating the dangers of this trans epidemic." She then launched into another 45 minute diatribe about the shape of Lily's earlobes and how they've been "forever altered by the evils of testosterone blockers and plugs, and piercings."

Meanwhile, Lily has no plans to detransition to appease her mother's prejudices. "I'm not going to live a lie just to make my mom comfortable," she said. "I'm a woman, period. She can either get on board or die mad about it."

Lily's father, Bob Johnson, 52, has reportedly been nothing but supportive of his daughter's transition. "I love my kid no matter what," he said. "I just want her to be happy. Plus, I have always secretly wanted a daughter to spoil. She makes me so proud as she has overcome so much, and besides - have you seen how cute she looks in a sundress? That's my girl!"

As for Karen, Lily hopes that with time and education, her mother will come to accept her for who she is. "I get that this is an adjustment," she said. "But at the end of the day, I'm still the same person I've always been, just a hell of a lot happier. If my mom can't see that, it's her loss."

When asked for any final words she'd like to share with her mother, Lily's face turned serious for a moment. "Mom, I love you," she said. "But I'm not going to light myself on fire to keep you warm. I'm your daughter, not your emotional punching bag. If you can't love me for who I am, that's your problem, not mine."

She then flashed a dazzling smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a life to live - a beautiful, fulfilling, joyfully transgender life!"