Joey’s Gift: Self-Determination

Joey is an amazing spirit, child, and has pure innocence. At nine years old she is very clear about her gender identity and embraces their feminine side, and yet still has a great passion for sports and aspirations to become a football player! May this world awaken gently to allow such amazing children to grow, bloom and become. It is her hope that she changes the rules of the NFL and that they will soon allow capable women! Look out world! Joey is coming!

Here is a message from Tiescha, Joey’s mother:

To watch a child grow into themselves is an remarkable journey to experience. Joey is an XY Intersex girl that embraces her feminine side along with naturally erasing the line in the sand of gender conformity.

She has a beautiful dream in life of seeing women join the NFL. From an early age she found a lovely balance of enjoying fashion, dolls, baking, loving anything Hot Pink and playing football. Any given day she walks in the house covered in dirt head to toe after hours of running slant routs, showers and puts on her Monster High PJ’s, plays with her doll house and works on her new fashion designs of Hot Pink dress with frills and sequins.

I believe one day our Joey will help others make the dream of women in football real. Her self-determination will take her there, not her chromosomes, or lack of testosterone production, her dream will get her there. She believes in possibilities and we believe in her. She hopes to show other kids they can be who they are and it’s okay to be Intersex. According to Joey it’s, okay to love football and play with Dolls, Pick flowers, and enjoy fishing, get a pedicure and play with bugs.

Here is a Facebook support for parents of intersex kids: Intersex Support for Parents

Here is a message from Joey’s mother, Tiescha, explaining why they allowed Joey to share her aspirations with the world:

“In the past few years, Joey started to ask questions about herself that were somewhat complicated to answer as a parent. We evolved with her and started using resources online to articulate what we could not find words for. She rapidly became more self-aware and in the past year found peace with who she is. Her questions did not stop, she began to conduct her own searches online and wanted to meet other Intersex children. This lead to her wanting to help others in learning (In her words) “It’s okay to be Intersex.” As a baby Joey was subjected to surgery, she never had a say and her voice was stolen. We vowed to never allow this to happen again. She is now using her voice and has our unconditional support, love, and guidance.”