When Jeff Bender’s child Courtney, who was assigned male at birth, asked for her first dress at one and a half years old, all Jeff saw was the smile and delight on his child’s face. Little did he know that he and his family were about to embark on a journey of learning, growth and acceptance that would include issues surrounding clothing, bathrooms, and sports teams.
Parenting in today’s world is challenging, but parenting a gender-nonconforming or gender-questioning child can be confusing as well. Jeff opens up about his family’s experiences with honesty and compassion, detailing the struggles and joys of parenting two gender-fluid children. Along with his own story, Jeff shares the viewpoints of other parents, grandparents, and even his own wife.
Apparel Has No Gender also provides guidance for parents wanting to learn more about gender identities and expression. Any parent will benefit from Jeff’s lessons on how to grow in understanding and parent with unconditional love and support.