A heartbroken mum has told how her own father cancelled Christmas after finding out his grandchild was transgender.
The mum said she was hosting her parents for Christmas Eve dinner and then the whole family were planning to attend her parents' house for Christmas dinner.
But after she text a friendly reminder to her dad that her child was now known as Layla and preferred to use the pronouns 'she' and 'her', he told her he would not be coming.
The devastated mum told Today's Parent : "In advance of this dinner, I messaged both of my parents on a group text to remind them of what we had talked about. I was nervous, because when I’d told my father about Layla two days before, he’d said nothing in response. And he had not said anything in the two days since. I didn’t know where he stood.
"A few hours before Christmas Eve dinner, I messaged my parents to remind them that her name is Layla, and to use she/her as pronouns. “This is an adjustment, I know,” I said. “You’re going to slip up, just like the rest of us. What matters is that we try.”
The mum said his shocking response led to the the 'inevitable breakdown of my relationship with my father', adding: "My father’s response? “She’s a he and if you don’t knock it off, I won’t come.”
"And that was the last we spoke. He did not come for our Christmas Eve fish fry dinner. In fact, he had my mom text my sister at 8:15pm that night so that she could tell me that my family was no longer welcome for Christmas dinner at his house the following day."
The mum said in the end her father stuck to his guns but ended up spending Christmas alone after his wife - Layla's grandmother - turned up at her daughter's house armed with dinner, before eventually divorcing her husband.
The Canadian mum said despite her father's terrible reaction, the most accepting of him was Layla.
She added: "Layla asked me about her grandfather and when I told her that he was not coming because he wasn’t accepting, do you know what my sweet, loving child said to me? “He just needs more time, Mom.” All the tears that I worked so hard to rein in just burst forth in that moment. “He just needs more information,”.
The mum's story left other parents and grandparents both bemused and saddened at the grandfather's reaction.
One said: "As a grandparent, I have difficulty understanding this grandfather's position. I am sure he will live to regret it. Mom made the absolute right decision, good for her."
Another said: 'I’m so sorry his willful ignorance and hateful heart is causing him to behave this way. Gross really. It’s so easy to be loving!
"Sounds like his problem and their loss. I bet your daughter is awesome. Support your kids. No matter what," said another.
