# When Dad Says "Call Me Mom"-Chris Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Me-56BKlEc Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/2Me-56BKlEc Generated: 2026-01-19T11:35:00.692+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Christopher King recounts the emotionally difficult experience of his father coming out as transgender when he was young, detailing the resulting family turmoil, his father's subsequent need to live authentically, and the lasting negative impact this had on his relationship with his father and his own emotional well-being. **Key Points:** - Christopher King began playing football in the fifth and sixth grade, during which time his father started dressing in women's clothing (wigs, blouses) and using fake fingernails. - The father announced he wanted to be a transgender woman in the 1990s, a concept that was not widely discussed or public at the time, causing confusion and distress for the family. - Following the announcement, the parents separated when Christopher was around nine or ten, and the father moved out, leading to limited contact (about once a week). - The father eventually started hormone therapy, which caused his voice to change, and he was reportedly taking hormones before the divorce was finalized. - Christopher felt immense anger and resentment because he felt his father was choosing to live authentically at the expense of the family dynamic, leading to him not wanting to talk about it openly. - The custody arrangements involved court-mediated therapy sessions where the judge reportedly told the father he needed to spend more time with Chris and address his own transition openly. - Christopher ultimately learned that his father fought hard to stay in his life and was a good influence, even though the situation was traumatic and led to him having to seek therapy himself. ![Screenshot at 00:09: Christopher King describes how his father would show up to his football practices dressed in women's clothing, including a wig and a blouse, to practice or games.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/2Me-56BKlEc/00-00-09.jpg) **Context:** Christopher King, interviewed for the 'Soft White Underbelly' series by Mark Laita, shares a deeply personal story about his childhood experience when his father decided to transition and live as a woman in the 1990s. King discusses the confusion, anger, and family upheaval that resulted from this revelation, particularly how it affected his relationship with his father and the ongoing legal battles concerning custody. ## Detailed Analysis Christopher King recounts the highly emotional experience of his father coming out as transgender in the 1990s, starting when Chris was in the fifth or sixth grade. His father began dressing in women's clothing, wearing wigs and blouses, and using fake fingernails, even showing up to his football practices dressed that way. This was a time when transgender issues were not openly discussed, leading to significant confusion for young Chris. The parents eventually separated around the time Chris was nine or ten, and his father moved out, leading to infrequent contact. Following the separation, the father began hormone therapy, which resulted in his voice changing. The custody battle was complicated, involving court-ordered therapy sessions where the judge reportedly told the father he needed to spend more time with Chris and address his transition openly. Christopher admits feeling angry and resentful because he perceived his father's transition as being selfishly detrimental to the family structure. He also mentions that his father fought hard to remain present in his life, which he now views as admirable, even though the experience was inherently traumatic and led to Christopher himself seeking therapy. He emphasizes that his father was always trying to be the father he knew, even while navigating his own transition, which caused conflict, especially when the father would refer to himself using female pronouns in front of others. Christopher states that he has since come to terms with the situation and accepts his father as he is, though he reflects that the experience was difficult to navigate as a child. ### Early Childhood & Father's Transition - Started playing football in 5th/6th grade while father started dressing as a woman (wigs, blouses, fake fingernails) - Fathers announcement of wanting to be a woman in the 1990s when it wasn't common knowledge. ### Family Turmoil & Custody - Parents separated around age 9 or 10; father moved out leading to limited contact (once a week) - Father started hormones during the divorce process, which changed his voice. ### Court-Mediated Therapy - Judge ordered father to spend more time with Chris and address his transition openly during therapy sessions - Chris felt his father's actions were unfair to the family dynamic. ### Personal Impact & Feelings - Felt angry, resentful, and humiliated by the situation, especially when father dressed femininely in public - Chris struggled to process his father's identity and actions. ### Current Relationship & Reflection - Father fought hard to stay in Chris's life despite the difficulty - Chris now respects his father's fight and acknowledges he was taught to listen to others and be kind, even if he disagreed. ### Book Promotion - Chris mentions his book, 'Call Me Mom,' available on Amazon, which details these experiences. ![Screenshot at 00:00: Christopher King, a heavily tattooed man wearing an American flag tank top, sits for an interview against a purple/brown mottled backdrop.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/2Me-56BKlEc/00-00-00.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:13: Christopher gestures while recalling his father dressing in women's clothing, including a wig and a blouse, for football practices.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/2Me-56BKlEc/00-00-13.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:50: Christopher discusses his middle-class upbringing before his parents divorced when he was nine or ten.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/2Me-56BKlEc/00-00-50.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:40: Christopher describes the difficulty of his father coming out as transgender in the 1990s when the topic was not publicly discussed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/2Me-56BKlEc/00-01-40.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:23: Christopher looks visibly emotional while describing how embarrassed he felt when his father's transition became public.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/2Me-56BKlEc/00-04-23.jpg)