For the first time we are hearing from the parents of Rep Mike Honda’s (D-CA) 8-year-old transgender granddaughter.
The congressional representative from Santa Clara County tweeted back in February about how proud he was of Malisa.
Many applauded Honda for his actions, but others questioned his motivations and criticized him for an action they felt was politicizing an 8-year-old.
But just like grandpa, Malisa’s parents say they are proud of their daughter and support what Honda did.
“I think a lot of grandparents who are social-media savvy, or who are on Facebook or whatnot, talk about their grandchildren all the time. They post pictures about their grandchildren, their families. He did nothing different,” Mike Honda’s daughter, Michelle Honda-Phillips, said to NBC.
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Michelle and her husband Travis say since the ultrasound, they saw their child as a boy, but by the age of three, she had chosen a new name for herself, Malisa.
When she turned, 8, Michelle and Travis asked their friends and family to start referring to their child as Malisa and to use feminine pronouns.
The family is working closely with doctors and will have to consider the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy as she approaches puberty. You can read more about the process and hear the entire interview on NBC..
