Op-ed: Happy Father's Day From the Daughter You Didn't Know You Had

Sitting in front of my computer that November day, I wrote the most important email of my life: an introduction between father and daughter.

A young Parker Molloy and her father

Six months after coming out to my then-girlfriend and one month after beginning hormone replacement therapy, I knew that I'd reached a point where I needed to come out to my parents. Never particularly great with words, I set out to write them an email, deciding to send first to my dad before following up with my mom.

"I know that the two of you have always told me that I could tell you anything, and you'd love me just the same," I began my note. "And so I feel like there's something I need to tell you."

I went on to detail my history of dysphoria, and worked to provide a connection to the overwhelming depression and despair my parents were forced to watch me endure through my teenage years.

"I understand that this may be hard for you two, as well, but this was something I needed to tell you as I love you both very much," I wrote. "I guess, just rather than having two sons and a daughter, you can think of it was having two daughters and a son. Getting used to a new me may be a challenge, but I want to give you all the time in the world you need to come to terms with this... I honestly, truly hope that you two can still love me through this, as your love and support means so very, very much to me. I don't want you to hurt, but instead, I hope that together we can celebrate the fact that I won't be so anguished anymore."

I closed the letter with a few quick links to trans-related resources, and I waited.

Within the hour, there was an e-mail from my dad in my inbox.

"As I have said from day one, I love you with all of my heart and there has never been a day where I havent been proud of you," he wrote. "There have been so many times throughout my life that Ive kicked myself and second guessed myself for having been too tough on you and made you too competitive and for that I truly ask your forgiveness."

"Needless to say, I will sit down with mom tonight and I expect that she will feel the same as me when I say, we live to see you be happy, truly happy. Certainly we can talk whenever you wish to talk and I can tell you, from my end, I will be very supportive and I hope Mom will as well."

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Op-ed: Happy Father's Day From the Daughter You Didn't Know You Had