Republished at Huffington Post
Dear Justice,
This weekend you made a little boy’s dreams come true.
My 10-year-old gender non-conforming son has been wanting to shop at Justice since he was 4, when he would tag along for clothes shopping with his big sister. After about age 11, she outgrew Justice and we hadn’t gone in the store for years. He ended up always begrudgingly trying on clothes from the boys departments along with his older brother. But he hated it. He avoided trying on clothes at all costs. Back-to-school shopping was a chore he dreaded to the extreme.
Every time we made a trip to your next door neighbor store, Target, my son would longingly look in the windows of Justice and say, “I wish I could shop there.” But we never went in. There was just something off-putting about those words on your window, reading, “Just for Girls,” that kept us away time and time again. My son doesn’t identify as a girl, at least he hasn’t for as long as he has been able to communicate, although he has always acted like a stereotypical girl, played exclusively with stereotypical girls toys, and has almost exclusively female friends.
We’ve all been on a journey to understand his gender non-conformity, but finally my husband, myself, and my 2 older cisgender children are all on the same page, and we’re just looking for ways to support our gender creative, in transition, born-male child. He may one day be LGBTQ+. He may not. We’re open to whatever, as long as he’s happy, true to himself, and not hurting anyone.
Well, this year I was planning a trip with my son to Justice over Spring Break for some much wanted “sparkly” clothes. All excuses aside, I was going to take the plunge. I was literally planning on going the day after HB2 became NC law, March 23rd.
This new law would ban transgender people from using public restrooms, showers, locker rooms and changing facilities that aligned with their gender identity. For example, a trans man who has a full beard, the build of a man, the voice of a man due to hormone blockers and testosterone injections, dresses like a stereotypical male, and for all intents and purposes appears very outwardly masculine would now be legally required to use the women’s restroom, if his gender markers weren’t changed on his birth certificate, or he wasn’t assigned male at birth. And vice versa ― trans women who haven’t changed their birth certificates are legally required to use men’s facilities.
Instead of going to Justice that day, I ended up glued to my laptop, trying to understand what to make of this new, horrific anti-trans, excruciatingly discriminatory law based on hyped up fears over a “potential” crime that has never actually happened. I wondered what this meant for my son’s future, especially if he ends up transitioning to female.
The summer came and went. My son settled on “boys” back to school clothes, and 2 pairs of “girls” Twinkle Toe sneakers, along with a hot pink, peach, and purple backpack, and pink lunchbox shaped like a purse.
I mentioned my son’s Justice wish to a group I founded and lead for parents of gender non-conforming and trans children. I wondered out loud whether a clothing store that touts itself as “just for girls” would be open to a boy trying on their clothes. Because of HB2, I wondered whether they’d have a legal right in N.C. to deny my son entry to a female dressing room.
Thanks to a hero mom friend, all the vetting out was done. She did something I had been putting off. She physically went to your store, spoke to the store manager on duty, and asked questions from, “Would you let a boy try on clothes here?” to “What would you do if another customer made rude comments to a little boy looking at or trying on clothes here?” And much more.
My friend reported all good news back to our group. The store manager assured her that “everyone is welcome at Justice,” and any rudeness or discrimination from fellow customers would not be tolerated. She spoke of how Justice’s parent company, Ascena, helped donate without question after the Orlando massacre at Pulse Nightclub. We definitely had an advocate at this store.
Then, another hero friend sent my son a Justice e-Gift card that I could use right from my phone. It was then a done deal. We were going shopping.
My son wanted to go immediately, but we had to get to school and it was 7:15 a.m. on a Tuesday. I told him, “maybe Friday.” So Friday afternoon at 4:45, I was leaving work and I decided to call the store to make sure our advocate was working. She was, however, she stated her shift was over at 5:15, but that the girl taking over after her was just as welcoming.
We rushed to get there, and just around 5:10, we arrived. There were no other customers in the store. My son’s eyes were huge and overwhelmed with possibilities. The Justice store manager came right over to greet us, didn’t bat an eyelash, and basically took on the role of my son’s personal shopper for the evening.
After getting a feel for what colors, textures, and patterns he liked, our advocate showed us several possibilities, from sequined mini skirts to slim jeggings. My son LOVED them all. We went to the changing room, and my son couldn’t get those clothes on fast enough. Once that first outfit was on, he posed and admired himself in the mirror, spun around in circles to see the skirt poof out, and studied himself from all angles in every possible combination of outfits. It was pure joy. This – in stark contrast to how he tries on “boys” clothing in other stores, when he won’t even put an outfit all the way on, or refuses to try on at all. My son dropped his usual shopping doom and gloom look and suddenly sprang to life in these clothes. He even encouraged me to take pictures of him in the different outfits. There was no denying he became a different, more confident, and happier child when wearing pretty things.
I was blown away by the fact that our advocate Justice manager stayed well-past her shift’s end, just to continue working with us. She made my son feel beautiful and totally free of judgment. I want to thank her for that precious, precious gift. I rarely get to see my son being his full potential, his absolute true self in public. She encouraged that and even helped bring it out. I felt so much hope for the future.
We left the store two hours later with two full bags, and I snapped a picture of my son standing by the store window that reads, “just for girls.” He was beaming and clutching his bags of new clothes, standing beside those words, “just for girls,” challenging the notion.
I will leave you with a few pictures I took of some of his new outfits. Please look at his smile. This is as genuine as it gets. I think his cheeks hurt from smiling so much when we left.
I want to say an extra special thank you to Ascena Retail Group, and to the Raleigh branch of Justice, at Poyner Place behind Triangle Town Center. I want to say a super-duper thanks to store manager, Stephnie, who went waaaaay above & beyond, and gave my son a safe place for 2 hours of his life that will no doubt impact his future in a big way.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Your most recent fan for life,
Martie Sirois, parent of a gender non-conforming 10-year-old boy transitioning to become someone even more beautiful than he already is.
*Since the publishing of this letter, Charlie has enjoyed a solid year in fifth grade wearing clothing and hair accessories from Justice, despite questions and confusion from some peers. For pronouns, Charlie no longer uses “he/him/his,” but instead goes by “they/them/their(s).” Charlie identifies as non-binary (Enby), and gender non-conforming. When pressured to answer “are you a boy or a girl,” Charlie says, “I’m just a person.”
Charlie’s parents founded and run a group called S.E.A.R.CH. (Safe Environment for the Acceptance of Rainbow CHildren), which is a playgroup for TGNC (trans and/or gender non-conforming) children ages 12 and under, and discussion group for parents. This fall, S.E.A.R.CH. will celebrate its first year anniversary of being a permanent, year-round, monthly program of their local LGBT Center.
Gender Creative Life 
I originally read your story on the Huffpost but had to come here to comment… This is such a beautiful story! I am so happy your child had this positive experience. Their smile is beautiful and brought me to tears. It gives me hope to know of the good people in this world. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
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I first read your email through the huffington post and wanted to follow it back to try and talk to you. I am a transgender woman and i wanted to say you are an amazing mother, I do not know how many times as i grew up i wished i could shop in the same sections as my sister, and how often back to school shopping was torture for me. Your son is beautiful and you can tell he loves his new clothes. It makes me happy to know that you accept him as he is.
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I also saw this on HuffPo too and I also commented over there also. I’ll go a bit more in-depth here though since it’s your personal blog…
I’m an agender trans person (who was assigned male at birth), and I, at age 5, first had thoughts that I wanted to be more like a girl. I sadly never got to have an experience like your son though. I didn’t even come out to anyone until 2011. Living closeted for so long was absolute torture. Even then nobody in my family knew until a year ago, and I’ve struggled to gain acceptance. I’m glad there are parents like you in the world. You truly love your boy, I can tell. Seeing those pictures, and seeing him with such a big smile on his face, that makes me happy.
I’ve now subscribed to this blog, by the way.
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I saw this on huff post as well, I just want to say it moved me to see that there are still kind people in this world. Also I wanted to say that your boy is beautiful!!! How can anyone see the extreme happiness on a child’s face and think anything wrong with it? Btw my twin girls who are 7 would give him big thumbs up on his fashion choices 👍🏻👍🏻😊
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If there ever was a face of pure happiness, it was your son’s. I just LOVE this story. It made my day, week and month. I’m SO happy for him!!
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Same here with Huff Post. My son is four and has preferred girls’ toys, clothes, tv shows etc. For a couple of years now (from the moment he could make his own choices and preferences apparent). I have no idea who he will decide to be as he gets older, nor does it matter to us as parents so long as he is kind and happy. I have begun to use the words “gender non conforming” to describe him as I’m quite sure we are past the point of “just a phase”. we have two other boys who prefer stereotypical boy things. Thanks for the article! I can’t wait to see how our guy grows and matures. Much love.
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Your son is absolutely lovely. This account is amazing!
Do you allow people to Skype into your support group? I am totally serious! I also have a beautiful, sensitive, 10 yr old gender non-conforming son. I too love when wearing a dress fills him with confidence and joy. I donot however have any network in which to share my concerns/fears/desires for this kid of mine. Also, he tends to be a loner because he is really unlike anyone we know. I feel alone in this and would love the support.
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I am a transgender male and I am so happy to read and see parents who honestly just want their children to be happy regardless of gender, gender identity, and gender expression. I am beyond happy for your son and that he was able to have such a positive experience.
Keep supporting him, keep loving him, as long as he has one person who is there to tell him everything is going to be okay he will be.
If you ever need anything please reach out !
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Good job Mom!
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I have tears just reading this! How wonderful to see that your child could freely be himself and let his beauty shine! I also have a gender creative (love that description) child. She was born a female but does not identify with either gender. She shops in both the boys and girls departments depending upon how she feels that day. I always worry that some one is going to make a comment to her about her clothes, causing her to be scared to express herself. It is a beautiful thing to be able to see the joy in a child’s face who realizes that they can express who they truly are in an open and supportive environment. Way to go Mom and Justice!
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This is such a beautiful story. I’m so touched to read about how wonderfully this went for Charlie and how this profound experience made him feel. It would be wonderful to see this happen more often and think it’s amazing. Kudos to the saleswomen that helped make him feel special. 💕 Both of my girls love Justice and we will continue to shop there.
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I read your story and began to tear-up. Your child’s strength is a lesson to us all. Tell your child that there are kind children and adults in the world. Someday the world will understand the beauty of a gender creative person, but know it takes one person at a time. Keep being brave!
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Oh wow, I just love the experience you and your child had at Justice! People can be SO awesome
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I had a knot in my throat holding back the tears while reading this post. Before I even reached the end, happy tears started running down my face. God bless that sweet kid. The pictures conveying pure joy just really did me in at the end. Every kid should be free to be so happy being whoever they feel comfortable being. From one mom to another, way to go mama!
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Martie, I just stumbled upon this story and I am so filled with joy for you and your sons experience. I am so touched and thrilled to know that you were able to have an experience that was inclusive, supportive and fun- what shopping at this store is supposed to be all about! I have been blessed to work for a company for 23 years that has prided itself on inclusivity for all-MAC Cosmetics. Stories like this one must be told, retold and celebrated. I have had the greatest pleasure working with makeup artists and customers who came to MAC because it felt like a place they belonged, that was safe and where they could find their inner diva or just plain feel beautiful. I would be honored to provide your son with an opportunity to add a little sparkle in any of our stores. It is a place for all people to come and be who ever they are. Charlie sounds like an amazing kid; we need more like him. As a mother of 3 daughters, all unique and individual, I am trying my best to make sure they love and support people who are just trying to find where they fit in this world. We do plenty of shopping at Justice- and now we will continue to. Thank you for being brave and being beautiful-it is not always easy to do. Reading this story of yours is a reminder to all that there is beauty, love, compassion and a fierce spirit in humans that can positively impact so many. ❤️
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