Baby raised without 'gender' sets off debate

A CTV News correspondent says a Toronto couple that has decided not to tell anybody their baby's gender because they don't want social norms impacting the decisions of their child.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

A A | Email This Email | Print | Comments (169) Tweet

Baby Storm is shown surrounded by family members in this undated photo. (John Vennavally-Rao, CTV News)

View Larger Image

Selected Comment

Settle down people. It will make no difference to the child. He or she will be what his/her brain and hormones determine him/her to be.

gus

Baby raised without 'gender' sets off debate

talking about
Baby raised without 'gender' sets off debate

Got something to say?

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. May. 26 2011 9:17 PM ET

A little baby in Toronto named Storm is raising quite a storm of its own, all because the child's parents are refusing to divulge the baby's gender.

Storm's mom and dad say they've decided not tell anyone beyond the child's two siblings and a tiny handful of others whether Storm is a boy or a girl, because they want to allow the baby to develop as long as he or she can without the constraints of gender stereotypes.

Storm's parents, Kathy Witterick and David Stocker, sent an email to friends and family when Storm was born to explain their decision, which read: "We've decided not to share Storm's sex for now -- a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation, a stand up to what the world could become in Storm's lifetime (a more progressive place? ...)."

So far, the parents have granted only one interview: to the Toronto Star newspaper. But that one interview has turned into an international sensation, raising ire and commendation from parenting experts, child behaviourists and seasoned parents alike.

"These parents are turning their children into a bizarre lab experiment," one woman wrote in to the Star, which published the original story on Saturday.

Another reader wrote, "The world around us has been set by thousands of years of social evolution. To try to undo this evolution through your child is very selfish and very inconsiderate to the child."

National Post columnist Barbara Kay suggested that Storm's parents' decision likely had less to do with Storm and more to do with the parents.

"The denial of biological reality by highly educated, but humanly naive ‘progressives' — and their choice to privilege the ‘world' over the needs and rights of their own children — speaks more to their narcissism than to their idealism," she wrote.

Toronto Star columnist Catherine Porter worried about what kind of adult Storm and his/her siblings will become, noting they've been allowed to wear what they choose and grow their hair as long as they choose.

"Without boundaries, I wonder if little 4-month-old Storm will wander aimlessly, like so many of my thirty-something friends," Porter wrote.

Is it possible the parents are being judged on more than just their decision about revealing Storm's gender? The family is of course hardly conventional, choosing to home-school - or "unschool" -- their children, as the parents explain -- and co-sleep together on mattresses pushed together in the parents' bedroom.

But Storm's family is hardly the first to flout conventions.

In 2009, a Swedish newspaper reported a couple doing the same thing as Storm's parents, with their 2-year-old, nicknamed Pop. The parents explained they wanted to "avoid [him or her] being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset."

Plenty of parents allow their boys to try on dresses, high heels or nail polish at home – though few have the guts to let their sons leave the house looking "like that."

Remember the outrage that greeted a J. Crew ad featuring a little boy with a pink toenail polish?

Or how about the "mommy blogger" who wrote the post entitled "My son is gay". She described in the post the backlash to her decision to allow her son to dress as Daphne from the Scooby-Doo TV series for a Halloween party at her son's daycare.

That parent too decided to flout gender stereotypes – and was later asked to leave the daycare because of the resulting firestorm.

Storm's family has certainly found themselves in a firestorm, but it appears to be one they didn't expect – and don't welcome. The parents have decided not to do any more interviews, telling the Star they don't want to get caught up in an unconstructive, back-and-forth conversation with critics. And they say they don't want their other children to have the spotlight shone on them any further.

"We don't want them to feel like exotic bugs, and when consulted, they said no thanks to more media attention," Storm's mother Kathy wrote the newspaper in an email.

But Kathy also suggested that while she was stunned at the vitriol in some of the comments left online to the original article, she still welcomed the debate their story had opened.

"Isn't defensiveness sometimes a first sign of learning or changing behaviour, so even the ‘rabid' responses may have a place in making the world a more thoughtful place," she wondered.

Comments are now closed for this story

Elisa...
said
0 0

Is this a social experiment at the expense of the child? These parents are setting up their child for a difficult childhood. Withholding a child's gender from others will not free him or her from gender stereotypes. Unless this child grows up in isolation, he or she will see the gender stereotypes in other families and will identify with one or the other. He or she will feel pressure to conform eventually. The only thing these parents are encouraging is scrutiny, negative attention and a years of being referred to as "it". These parents should stop disguising their selfish agenda under the guise of some altruistic vision of child rearing.

Dawn, Saskatoon
said
0 0

Really it isn't anyones business, what they choose to do with their child is their business, as long as the child isn't being physically and mentally abused then genetics and mother nature will sort the child out. I think we all get our knickers in twist way too quickly and put our noses into other peoples business way too often, oh except when we need to put our noses in, you know when some poor child or woman is being beaten to a pulp, then no one wants to be involved.

Kaiden
said
0 0

Gender is simply a social construct. We are taught how to behave by our parents based on our sex, and for those like me who do not fit into that narrow view, we grow up confused, and feeling like we do not belong anywhere. To be raised without gender boundaries is an extraordinary freedom I would have killed for. It would have saved me years of rebellion and rage.

charlie
said
0 0

thats fine except! What is the babies choice!? Probably NOT to be center piece to the parents own wishes!Why dont they play this game on themselves?

Posing as Stan Lee
said
0 0

I think Storm is a good name!

Mary V
said
0 0

What are these negative commenters so afraid of? Why do they assume that a child raised in a different enviroment than the one they see as "correct" will cause harm to the child.Personally I see more harm in ignorant comments made in a childs hearing : ex. OMG your son is wearing purple or pink do you want him to be Gay. or directly to a child... "you throw like a girl" or "you fight like a girl" What is sad is that many of these comments put down girls, and boost boys, like the comment "Wow she has some balls" We need to raise our children to be accepted for themselves and their own traits, not whether it is a so called feminine or masculine trait.Acceptable behaviour, and dress and adornment have changed over the centuries, and has and never will be cast in stone.

Dwight
said
0 0

I feel so sorry for this baby having such "STUPID PARENTS" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What the hell are they doing to this poor child?Ruining he/shes/ life is what they are doing.When this child gets older & has no idea as to what is wrong with him/her, the parents will look back & wonder what happened."DUMB PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

zachfx
said
0 0

I don't see what the fuss is about, as long as the kids get a chance to play with other children and socialize outside of the home they will be fine

stevo
said
0 0

It's nice to see that everyone is an expert on gender, parenting, and biology. This story has absolutely no relevance to anyone outside this child's family. The people who condemn the parents are the same types who condemned parents for allowing girls to wear slacks two generations ago or play hockey a generation ago. And vice versa they condemned parents for allowing boys to grow long hair, become air stewards or choose nursing as a career (i.e. they're probably poor parents with warped kids themselves yet are self proclaimed experts on how every other kid should be raised). Now I'd like to rant more but I've got to put on my dress and do my nails so that I can go out with my wife, Chazz Bono, and Boy George to see Miss Saigon.

Julie
said
0 0

It is an interesting and unusal stance..and I am also wondering why the parents are exposing it like they are...which makes me wonder if perhaps this child was born with a genetic anomoly/hermaphrodism..?

Sara
said
0 0

So many things come to mind here. This is going to be one more person that everyone has to make an exception for. Such crap. So many people seem to feel they have to do something to make them special and to stand out. No one is happy just being themself. Homeschooling and isolation as the eldest has "decided" (because a 4 or 5-year-old makes excellent choices about their long term future) will further the problem of feeling lost and not fitting in the child will unavoidably feel. And now we're just adding to the population of uneducated persons. Fantastic. How selfish of the parents. Let your child be who and what they are and own it. I hope this baby grows up and is extremely proud to be either a male or female. This child's parents are twisting it's mind. Maybe if it's a girl, we will have a playboy bunny in the making. Then what, eh?

Janice
said
0 0

These parents need a psychiatrist, what unstable people they are. No wonder the world is screwy...

wolfeden
said
0 0

Couple of artsy fartsy politically correct parents who, apparently, want to ruin his/her life!!! Sometimes modern-day parents are the bain of childhood!!!!!!!!!

Heather
said
0 0

Storm is totally a girls name. They should of named it Pam.

Not for this, not against it either
said
0 0

Just because this isn't the way you would choose to raise you child, doesn't meant that it's wrong. There are lots of people who choose to homeschool, and cosleep, and I am sure there are way more parents out there who are actually raising their babies like these parents are raising Storm, they are just choosing not to tell the world. It does not make them horrible people, or horrible parents. The people who said social services need to be called are being ridiculous and need to think about what they are saying.

Itslikethis
said
0 0

Just ignore them!

Terry
said
0 0

Another set of whacko parents who think they are doing the right thing. Wait until the child is in High school, then the child will be the one to suffer because of the parents dumb decisions. And people wonder why the world is crazy. I have known parents who home schooled and when the kids went to High school they were social morons. Poor child.

NB87
said
0 0

Although it seems like the morally 'right' thing to do, if it provokes bullying from peers and makes the child's journey into adulthood arduous and painful because of our society's mores I don't feel it is worthwhile. Though, of course, if every child was raised as such it would be a non issue.

Wallace Winston Wright
said
0 0

Amazing that while everyone is SO concerned about the baby's sex but no one, not one person here, or in the media frenzy over this baloney has asked "is the baby healty?" This is a sad sign for society when the concern themselves with such nosense. With all the other things going on in this world, people are going to waste this much energy on somthing this trivial? Amazing...absolutely amazing. And to the moron who said "it is child abuse", what are you on??? Whatever it is, cut the dosage.

Diane
said
0 0

This wont harm the child at all. Obviously as soon as the child is old enough to be aware of gender difference he/she will know or be told which he/she is. I'm sure the parents don't plan to send him/her to school with a mystery gender.They just don't want their child pushed into gender roles and stereotypes way before its necessary.I'm more shocked by parents who dress their six year olds like grown women and put them in beauty contests or have a fit if their little boy wants to play with a doll.

CJ
said
0 0

Society has a gender bias! Inconceivable! Parents who decide to raise their own children, borders on treason. If the parents want a child to grow without gender bias in its early years, that's perfectly acceptable. The child will learn about gender bias irregardless of whether it gets a pink or a blue jumper. The parents are not denying their child a gender, just denying people the right to know it. People who think that their ignorance is going to screw the kid up should realize that it is exactly that form of ignorance that the parents want to protect their child from.

CSam
said
0 0

Wow @ Cathy?!?! let the child choose it's gender? Are you for real? Gender is decided the moment the male sperm fertilizes the egg. That's when gender is decided, and it's not a choice.

shocked in Hamilton
said
0 0

How do these parents think they are going to ignore multiple thousands of years of anthropology and human development by trying this stunt with their own children? It is child abuse which will affect these children for a lifetime, long after the parental influence is over and done. And just how do they propose to ignore the influence of the (our) society which surrounds them? They gave their children the gift of life, and now are denying them its normal course of events. It makes no sense. Can we check back with these people in 10, then 20, and 30 years to see how things are working out?

Ralph
said
0 0

I think it is despicable to think these people are allowed to ruin a child by doing what they plan. If they don't want a normal child, adopt a dog or cat and leave people who want children to raise and look after them properly.

Vincent
said
0 0

Just a couple of self-centered yuppies whos kids are going to have a very hard time in adult society, not to mention the schoolyard. I actually pity them. But what did you expect with the NDP in official opposition?!!

Kirisha
said
0 0

When this child gets older it will be obvious what gender he/she is...what are the parents going to do then?? They are taking away from their child rather then giving to them...this child will not know what it means to be a girl or boy and to be proud of what gender they are. It is not right for the parents to say "it doesn't matter what gender he/she is" It most certainly does. To the child.

Mr Meow
said
0 0

Who is going to pay for the installation of "?" washrooms in all Federal, Provincial and Municipal Government Buildings including schools?

AB reader
said
0 0

I wonder if the parents realize that the child will just figure it out on her/his own? I don't remember having to be told that I was a boy and not a girl. This is ALL ABOUT media attention.

Theresa Barrett, Niagara
said
0 0

Just another set of parents achieving cheap "fame" through their innocent child.

Northern Princess
said
0 0

No wonder our world is so messed up? They start their life being messed up on purpose. The baby has no clue but the brothers and sisters do. Just because they want a girl to be able to play with trucks and boys to play with Barbie is no way to ignore their gender. They are not born 'its'. I would think that it would make those children ashamed of being either. what's wrong with being a girl or a boy. Its not in the gender bending, its how you raise them to be self-confident, able to do whatever they want in life, be responsible for one's actions, be accountable and productive. I haven't mentioned once that being a girl or a boy, one can't achieve those things. Girls can be tough and sensitive and boys can be sensitive and tough. Unbelievable. Some people shouldn't be allowed to pro-create. Really! Mother and Grandmother!!

gus
said
0 0

Settle down people. It will make no difference to the child. He or she will be what his/her brain and hormones determine him/her to be.

Mr Meow
said
0 0

Sounds like child abuse, in my personal opinion. That poor child is going to receive more abuse at the hands of other children. Many parents will be unjustifiably offended by this decision and their children will see the contempt and translate that into bad conduct towards this child and possibly it's siblings. Unless this child has ambiguous sexual genitalia there is no good reason for such a stupid decision.

M. Higginson
said
0 0

It's about time there's some real parents out there that are willing to do what is necessary to raise a GOOD CHILD in todays world. Everyone commenting that what they are doing is wrong is clearly ignorant. Shame on you, they're not you're children to raise...and that's a good thing.

Monica
said
0 0

This is an example of child abuse. This little kid is being treated as a lab rat undergoing experiments. Where are the social services? The implementation of this utopian idea is going to cost this poor child dearly one day. Gender ideology is totally divorced from reality. It is absurd. And it is terribly wrong.

Hank
said
0 0

They're all sleeping together? That tells me these kids will be screwed up more than not revealing the sex.I'm glad my tax dollars will pay for all the counselling their kids will no doubt need in a few years.

CSam
said
0 0

Another example of a couple of whack-job parents. Just goes to prove that anyone can be a mother or father, takes something special to be a mom or a dad.I mean really, "I'm not going to submit my child to gender stereotypes..blah blah blah.."How about "We love our son/daughter and support him/her in whichever path their life takes them"?This is all about drawing attention to themselves.

M. Yates
said
0 0

Yes...we as parents tend to hand down to our children those beliefs which we have...religious or otherwise...my problem is that the child who doesn't really understand the reasoning (?) behind the belief, has to defend it to others, and gets ridiculed, bullied or shunned for it.

Henry
said
0 0

Another future brainless leftie voter.

NSWoman
said
0 0

What gives them the right to feel they need to teach society around them a lesson? What is wrong with people asking whether it is a boy or girl, or calling it handsome or pretty?This sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me.

Rob in Victoria
said
0 0

So the poor kid is named STORM STOCKER as well. Whatever its sex, they could probably use it in the midwest when it's old enough.

Jazz
said
0 0

I am curious if the media will call back to this family when Storm turns 16 and then again at 24 to see how well this experiment worked. I have a funny feeling he/she will either be in rehab, on welfare or both.

Richard
said
0 0

Freaks. They should lose the kid.

Nick
said
0 0

The child will be whatever nature intended to be. The issue here for me how will the parents and other family members interact with the child. If they refuse to say him or her. Then they have to say something else. To me it's just stupidity wrapped up in some phony social experiment. Is there a problem with evolution making what we call female and male. I think not. Parents should never use their children for their own twisted beliefs.

Schmecil
said
0 0

Its a selfish move by the parents for publicity. There are other ways to have family and friends encourage children to express themselves and not be limited to gender specific toys, clothing, games, etc. But your child isn't an experimental guinea pig. As a parent you should be protecting your child - not setting them up for scrutiny and possible confusion. Hey, maybe we should also try giving our children whatever they want, no dicipline or need to follow rules - afterall THAT put limitations on the development on their true selves as well.

T - Edmonton
said
0 0

Well said Jefferson, couldnt have said it better *Thumbs Up*

kestral
said
0 0

so, people are upset because these parents arent telling the world what their baby has between its legs? wow.

colleen
said
0 0

WHO CARES, the siblings and parents and the "need to know" list knows the sex of this child, and they want to conceal it as long as they can...that dont mean forever it may only mean until kindergarten when the school requires the information so really, does it matter if strangers or extended family knows if its a boy or girl, as long as the child is healthy thats what really matters!!! The baby will be to young to be influenced by what all of us think about it! This just seems like a big waste of time to debate this at all!! As for them home schooling the kids good for them to many parents cant wait to put their kids on the school bus every day, especially the first day back after summer holidays! so kudoos to them

boy
said
0 0

this is so wrong in soo many ways ! ! !

Poohbear
said
0 0

Just by looking at the photos, Storm is a boy. When my son was 4 he loved to play with Polly Pocket ( a girls toy) At first I was hesitant because it was a girls toy, but now he is 14 and it hasn't affected his sexuallity. He still remembers how much fun he had playing with that set.

Matthew
said
0 0

@Cathy: I wonder how comfortable you would be if, I for example, started using a WOMENS washroom. You statement reeks of idiocy. You do not get to 'Pick' your gender, you are either born female or born male. All this man stuck in, and vice versa aside. Gender is not a choice. Or did you miss a few, no, all of your biology classes. This whole idea, that gender is something society made up is pure hog wash. By these 'parents' doing this they are doing exactly what they accuse us all of, assigning morale values to a fresh mind. No different. The only difference is, my DAUGHTER, gets to choose how SHE wants to exist. I didn't make that choice for her. Oh and Cathy, not sure where you live, but here, if a man goes into a womens bathroom to pea in front of women, its called Indecent Exposure. Get a grip lady.

bill in Ottawa
said
0 0

The "Looney left" says: "let them have the freedom to make thier own choices". The "Wingnut right" says: "I don't agree with the choice they have made, therefore they should either change to fit my tastes or the authorities should be made aware and force them to comply with my taste". Anyone see why conservative ideology is leading to bigger, meaner government? Cons say they beleive in freedom...I don't see evidence to support that claim.

Stop and think
said
0 0

Those commenting saying its none of our business may be the same people this kids kills when it is so screwed up later in life from the foolish upbringing its subjected to that he/she strikes out in anguish and hurts others because it is so messed up. The reason society has standards is because they work to maintain order and civility.

elly
said
0 0

C'mon ......................it's a boy!

John
said
0 0

Given the ridiculousness of "Princess culture" I can understand why the parents have chosen this path. As for everyone else: why is a baby giving you nightmares?

Tony B
said
0 0

what's the big deal. How come so many of you are angry. I think some of the responses here are exactly what those parents are talking about. No one has patience or compassion or kindness anymore. We are all so pissed off at things. It's starting to become tiring.

greentreez
said
0 0

Well Storm is a cute little baby, regardless gender. I could care less if they do or do not ever reveal gender. BUT the way more important thing is the education of the children - noschool, what the heck is that ?!? I am sorry, but in order to be a functioning person in our world, EDUCATION is required. Children, boys and girls, need to LEARN. They need education. Even home schooling is fine, but with a proper cirriculum that will enable the child to function in this world when it becomes independent of its parents and has to be a productive member of society and make its own way in life. Someone please ensure these children are educated !!!!

annoyed
said
0 0

Cant wait for one of the parents to go out on the town one evening and the babysitter has to change "his" diaper! after that...gender is out. you parents are losing your minds. if you didn't want the attention...why even go to news articles to say that your baby is genderless. get a life. dont you have more things to worry about like a healthy lifestyle and what about the "that's my girl" for good job or "that's my boy" for doing something good. wow good way to keep it a secret.

Brad from Alberta
said
0 0

I would do the same thing if I had a gernderless baby. I have seen TV interviews where the parents made the choise and not there child is spending tens of thaousands or dollars on surgery because the parents guessed wrong.

Concerned Conservative
said
0 0

it's bad enough this poor kid will have to grow up with a ridiculious name STORM, but will also have to try to figure out their gender for themselves. I pity this poor kid. Growing up will be a painful process for them.

Matthew
said
0 0

Parents are supposed to protect and nurture their children. They (the parents) are going out of their way to alienate their child for the sake of a PERSONNEL social experiment. My heart goes out to this child, one day he will be a teenager, and its hard enough 'finding' yourself with out your own parents stacking the deck against you. I am thinking perhaps a mental fitness test or two should be given to the parents. Me thinks theres a neuron or two misfiring. If anyone here thinks, this is in anyway 'ok' for the child, YOU are whats wrong with parenting today. This isn't an experiment. This is a human life, that has every right to social contact as a properly defined gender human. This goes beyond absurd.

Jeff in Calgary
said
0 0

I really don't care as much about the whole 'silent gender' issue, as much as I'm bothered by the issues around their 'home schooling' and all sleeping on matresses on the parent's floor together. Put all this together with their 'no gender' issue and they're really setting their children up for feeling like the 'odd man (or woman) out' when they grow up, as they're going counter to a great deal of societal norms. Unless they're planning on starting a commune, they're putting their kids into a position where they will have a great deal of trouble fitting in to society, regardless of perceived gender stereotypes.

Jefferson
said
0 0

The child will understand his or her gender very quickly - the parents aren't hiding the gender from the child (or siblings), but from the outside world. Therefore, it's society that must adjust. We don't know whether to call him handsome or her pretty, to buy her a doll or him a truck for the child's birthday. The parents aren't challenging the child, they're challenging everyone else. I don't think it's a big deal at all. Sex is biological; gender is learned behaviour (environmental). The child will be fine.

Crystal
said
0 0

Children should be raised to be proud of who they are. Why would you encourage your child to hide who he/she was born to be? This is 2011, there is no such thing as gender restrictions anymore.

JD, Smiths Falls
said
0 0

Other posters are exactly right, this is a blatant cry for attention. All I can say is, I fear for the child's first day of school. Bullies generally aren't very friendly and this poor child's situation (name and "it-ism") constitutes a pretty easy pick for a would-be bully.

carol
said
0 0

Why is this even news, like these parents need to get a clue. You can totally see it's a boy. Anything to get publicity

Alecta
said
0 0

Why is our society so obsessed with what we have between our legs? The child is loved and nurtured and that is good. The details of the child's plumbing isn't relevant, which is what the parents are saying here. I've seen too well the damage done by society's idea of "proper gender roles". And really, isn't there a lot going on in the world right now that's vastly more important?

Dave
said
0 0

For those imbeciles that suggest that the parent has the right to raise their child the way that they see fit, in this case out of the norm. Who will pay for the rehabilitation of this child when he/she grows up and is mentally unstable because of the parents test. There are alot of people that have children, that shouldn't. Like the two in this story, there should be a test to see if you do not have unstable persons raising children. I am sure these two would of failed.

2genders
said
0 0

Anyone ever think that maybe this baby was born with both genders and this is why the parents are "playing it out" to see which gender the baby most resembles?

jwy
said
0 0

i smell book deal. i guess that's a way to secure storm's college funds.

Keeder
said
0 0

If we have all evolved then should we not be able to allow the evolved to continue to evolve without reference to any norms or rules? Unless of course, we were created along with norms and rules.

Kim in Calgary
said
0 0

He's a boy and very cute. I appreciate your attempt to raise your children without gender bias however not permitting them to socialize and integrate with society ("unschooling" will be more harmful in the end.

Ian
said
0 0

Parents instill our religious belief on our children. If the parents are vegetarian, so to will the children be. That kind of parenting is OK. But we can't raise a child to believe that gender has no boundaries, in an age where men and women are supposed to be equal. And to all the parents passing judgement. Let see where your kinds are at in 20 years.

Julia
said
0 0

Sometime the worst of things are done with the best of intentions. Granted, I think it is an interesting frame of mind and personal freedom demonstrated towards the child to allow 'natural' gender traits to manifest. However, this is just as restrictive in nature as acknowledging the gender in the first place.. that the child has already specific constraints in place that may ironically be even more detrimental to social/biological identity.

S in Ottawa
said
0 0

I think this same thing can be acheived without hiding the gender of the child from everyone. When my daughter was little, I let her play with whatever she wanted. She did not like barbies, etc. Instead, she liked anything sports related and crafts. No problem, I let her do what she was interested in. I did not buy her things based on gender stereotypes. I also did the same thing with my son when he was little. He really wanted a doll, so my husband and I went and got him one. We asked him why he wanted one so badly and his answer was simply, "because I want to be a good daddy like my daddy." He pushed that little girl doll around in a stroller for a long time. He also loves his trucks too and loves to roughhouse like a little boy. As long as parents don't let gender stereotypes get in the way of raising their children, then this same way of raising a child can be acheived without all the secrecy. FYI, my daughter is a teenager now and quite an exceptional athlete, and my son, who is still somewhat young, may just grow up to be a very sensitive father - because we didn't gender type toys.

zoltan
said
0 0

WTF. our kids are now science experiments??? Sad

BK in Cornwall
said
0 0

Another example of where the world is heading.....absolute stupidity.

e-van
said
0 0

The kid will eventually figure out whether they have a penis or not and can decide for them self. It's not that big of deal

Cathy
said
0 0

It's not that the parents are keeping the gender a secret, it's that they have not assigned a gender. There are gendered facilities in North American (e.g. washrooms as some commentators have mentioned), but the child will be able to choose their own gender when they are ready, and thus use whichever gendered facilities they are most comfortable with. This is a beautiful story and I wish more parents would follow this lead. Coercively assigning genders at birth -- and often even before birth -- is hurtful and it is harder to correct the error later in life. Letting children choose their preferred gender correctly the right time is socially desirable, and also, it will save money for taxpayers because they won't require as much medical assistance to transition later in life.

MikeB
said
0 0

Some of you ask who are we are to judge? The parents did an interview with a newspaper. If they didn't want publicity and to be judged, they should have kept their mouths shut. They couldn't, because as stated in the article - this is about the parents trying to be intellectuals and show they are better than everyone else. It has nothing to do with the kid. They are narcissists.

Peter
said
0 0

This is not about what's good for the child but about a selfish decision on the part of the parents.

Sherri Sudbury
said
0 0

Most babies have no clue as to what sex they are until they are old enough to distinguish differences. So once that happens this child will figure out pretty quick if it is the same as its sister or different. It is a ridiculous experiment, but I am sure it won't harm the child as much as unschooling (is this even a word) will.

paul
said
0 0

As soon as it is old enough to use a public restroom then the secret is out.

m@
said
0 0

Cute little boy you have there!

Vanessa C
said
0 0

Kudos to the parents. Let the child determine his or her own gender identity. Those saying "you have to raise a boy or a girl" haven't a clue. It's been proven time and time again - you can try all you want, but eventually the real gender identity comes out. So let the child grow up and determine their own identity.Get with the times. This is not the 1800's.

crystalrose
said
0 0

I'm sure in the future this will be considered good parenting. I see too often where boys are brought up to think that things considered 'feminine' are bad. We think that women are equal, but they are not. What is wrong with a boy playing with dolls? Or with a play kitchen? A boy could grow up to be a father someday, in my family my spouse is the main (better) cook. What is wrong with a girl playing football? I played on a all girls rugby team in highschool, but there was only one girl I know of who even tried out for the football team. I have seen boys razed by their fathers for liking things that are considered girly. In today's world the boy seems to have it worse because they are not allowed to display feminine qualities without being made fun of. But then by doing that society is also putting down women by saying that there is something wrong with it. Personally, I would rather be a feminine person and have compassion and be able to show emotion than to be more manly and have to hide these qualities. When I was young I watched as women fought to be equal and I knew that in the end women would also come out meaner and rougher and sure enough I read and hear more and more about female bully's. I personally think men should strive to be more like women.

Dorian
said
0 0

Society at large is predisposed to "hang ups" in these matters. Understand that what you know is a result of what you are taught and exposed to!

Puzzled
said
0 0

What a bunch of hooey. Now all that loosey goosey parenting from the 1960's and 70's is coming back to bite us in a big way.

Yduzitmatter
said
0 0

The whole uproar over this story is just silly. Do I agree with what these parents are doing? It really does not matter if I do or do not.As to the poster who asserted that gender specific toys/gifts only come later in life I beg to differ. As a parent of a boy/girl set of twins I received from the outset gifts that were very gender specific. Clothes were always blue and pink - or his and her matching outfits. Toys were blue and pink - not to mention the different way people spoke to and interacted with the children - for our son it was "play" and tough talk "my little man etc" and for our daughter it was "what a sweetheart, you little tiny thing you" followed by a gentle cooing.Sickening really to witness. Toys in our house tended to be blocks and art supplies and other gender neutral toys(as much as possible) to encourage creative thinking and play as opposed to gender specific dolls/guns whatever. I decreed upon my daughter's birth that no barbie doll would ever be allowed in my house - a useless toy of no particular merit IMHO.Let this family raise thier children as they please - it really is no one's business and should not be condemned because it does not fit your white picket fence stereotype. It takes all kinds to make the world work and we should all be grateful that there are so many different kinds in our world and that we have the freedom to choose our own path.Yduzitmatter

WpgLisa
said
0 0

I think the issue is more about the child than the parents. In this day and age we try to protect the children from being singled out in any way. We pass them in school so they don't feel bad for not keeping up with the other kids their age. We praise them for a job well done when they didn't do it well to help their egos. We get upset when kids at school tease our children and blame their parents for not raising them right.So how are these parent's going to explain to their child when they are old enough for school? I mean as a parent I'd be mad if my child had to share a bathroom with someone who may or may not be the same gender. When girls line up on one side of the gym and boys on the other...who will comfort the one child left standing in the middle?And really, the child will have parts and if they keep that information to themselves...curious kids are going to want to know, opening this child up to many "pants"ings, relentless teasing and the disgust/fear retaliation from those who feel they are being "duped" or misled. I fear for this child meeting a particularly nasty group who will take it upon themselves to "find out" or to hurt the child physically just for being different.Deceptive is the word that comes to mind. Most people don't like being deceived.

Jon in London ON
said
0 0

"a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation, a stand up to what the world could become in Storm's lifetime (a more progressive place? ...)." Interesting hypocrisy - freedom to choose as long as the choice is "progressive" enslavement.

rmsbl4
said
0 0

The obvious question, which I didn' read in the story or any of the comments, is how did the media get wind of this?

steveo
said
0 0

The least disturbing par of this is not telling the gender. All sleeping together with parents by choice is a little stranger....developing dependancies that may hurt them later in life. Home school....debatable. To each there own. I hope the kid doesn't get the crap kicked out of them later in life for their parents choices.

Steve I Am
said
0 0

Honestly WHO cares, one more messed up kid in the world. I wish the internet and news organizations would leave stories like this alone. The parents are just attention seeking and we have wasted enough words on them. Good luck to Storm and all the other children out there.

Brian
said
0 0

The name alone is a dead give away ... these are full on attention seeking parents. Forget about the gender issue. This kid is going to have way bigger problems witht the stupid name.

Tess
said
0 0

First of all, for all of you saying "it's none of our business" THEY made it our business, when THEY made it public!I personally think it's a cry for attention. Because any good parent will know that you can raise a child to be WHO THEY TRULY ARE, just by supporting whatever your child does choose. Simple as that, there is no need for all the hoopla of keeping it's gender a secret.

Scientific Canadian
said
0 0

No big deal. As soon as he/she is old enough to play outdoors, the world will observe if he/she lifts the leg or squats.

Ian in Barrhaven
said
0 0

Yes, narcissism at play here. Allowing your kids greater freedom of choice and expression is a lofty aspiration and think it's a good idea. But a child needs to be old/mature enough to understand the implications. Storm's parents want him/her to have a chance at being raised free from social expectations of a gender-- okay. Well, they have stripped him/her of the decision to participate in this social experiment. And by doing so they have given him/her the chance to experience complete confusion and ridicule at the hands of the rest of the world that functions perfectly well within our society's expectations. Yes, I allow my daughter to wear whatever she wants-- pants, dresses, tights, rainboots, sandals, etc. But when she wants to wear shorts in the middle of winter or a skirt and no underwear, I draw the line on her freedom of choice and expression. By the way, you don't need a licence to buy a dog. You just buy it. Afterwards you must licence it. Just like after having a child you must "register" him/her with a birth certificate.

viral venus
said
0 0

Fortunately for today's children most modern parents are more balanced in their approach than generations before and most men and women who are raising children have fewer of the gender based hang ups my generation dealt with. I have both a granddaughter and a grandson and their quite normal parents are navigating the tricky waters of parenthood without resorting to either extreme conservatism in their approach to gender nor extreme denial that gender plays an important and undeniable role in how our children relate to the rest of the world. That said, I see nothing more wrong with these parent's approach than with the strictly controlled, old-fashioned gender biased sterotypes that other parents routinely force on their children and no one does anything to discourage those parents. We've all heard them - "that toy is for boys don't touch it", "that colour is for girls you can't wear it", "only boys/girls can do (insert ridiculous limitation here)". We rarely hear criticism of that archaic approach which is probably one reason these parents are lashing back in the other direction. The unfortunate part is that neither of these extremes is in the best interests of the children.

dj
said
0 0

everyone seems to miss the comment that the parents, on this childs birth, were not telling the gender in their birth announcements. Which of their friends and family chose to tell the media? And when the media called the parent did one interview, refusing to do more and make their family news fodder, ( that obviously hasn't worked) . Its a baby. leave it and the family alone!!!

Daniel Cohen
said
0 0

They raised two kids the same way, this one they went to the media with, there privacy and that of their child was part of their parental responsibility. Put yourselves and your child in the court of public opinion and there ye shall be judged.Its one thing to give this type of freedom to a child who clearly expresses gay or transgender traits another entirely to give a child who likely is not gay or transgender options that they will be judged on based on parameters and standards in society they cannot understand.We parents are here to provide guidance and to keep our children safe, physically and emotionally as much as humanly possible. The world is a harsh and horrible place, we are here to prepare our children for it not allow them to meander down a path that may socially and psychologically harm them.

A in mtl
said
0 0

As my mother says, "There are no guarantees when raising a child that you are doing the 'right thing'. Just love them and teach them about the world as best as you can."These children may indeed learn a valuable lesson about society from all of this.As long as the family is loving towards each other, I wish them all the best.

Bob
said
0 0

Clearly, the pictures shows it's a boy. End of discussion.

dj
said
0 0

he or she has an sex, the parents are chosing not to tell is all, really people, is it your business to know? its a baby most people posting will never see or know.......something that is only this big news because the media chose to make it so.

Tyler in Ottawa
said
0 0

As long as it grows up, gets an education, gets a job, pays its taxes and is a meaniful contributor to its community, who cares? As long as this doesn't evolve into a side-show or become a gimmick for others to profit off of, or becomes a burden in any way to society, big deal. My life goes on, and SO SHOULD YOURS!

peter in mb
said
0 0

I would like to offer my hypothesis to this social experiment to the parents as to the of the future of their 3 children. By not going to school and not being home schools by proper curriculum (un-schooled) by age 18 they will be become useless bums on the street living off social assistance and if they are lucky will be in government housing for the rest of their lives. Or they will end up In prison for breaking the law because they did not learn the difference between right and wrong. In either case they will be living off they system. My hypothesis is based facts of all the cases where parents did not give there children proper guidance and let their kids drop out of school. We see this reality in many northern aboriginal communities where this is Not an experiment, It is a day to day reality that has robed kids of their chance to secede in the world today. This experiment has already been done and it�s a frailer.

Student in NS
said
0 0

Raising the baby without being gender specific allows the child to develop without steriotypical requirements. Once the child goes into adolescence it will become aparent as to what the gender is. There was an article called Baby X I read in psycology class that was about this exact scenerio. It is not the parents or the child that is having issues, it is the public who generalize and categorize. Girls go here, boys go there. Girls can do this, boys can do that. Tall people are this, short people are that. I think these parents have a right to their own opinion, this child may end up being more rounded than most of ours because he/she does not have to fit into any category. It may end up being the next big craze.

JDsteve
said
0 0

Since I have not ever met a perfect human being, I would like to ask one question to all who post or boast to know so much.However did you become so perfect as to be able to judge what is right or wrong?

Godfrey Wilton
said
0 0

There is a blue door and a red door .... the child will pick which one to enter when confident enough to enter. The child will understand different anatomy once he/she needs to discover the joys of potty training. Once then, the parents are making the decisions ... Oh! once the child enters day care and/or JK/SK, the child will be making another discovery ...

Correction
said
0 0

Correction:In the start of the article, it said that the parents are refusing to divulge the child's gender. But, I believe they mean that the parents are refusing to divulge the childs sex, as sex is different than gender. The baby may biologically be male or female, but their gender is what they feel on the inside. We will not know what their gender is for some time. Thanks!

Tinman
said
0 0

Just another reason why people should mind their own business. Who are any of us to judge?A lot of people seem to think that they can pass moral judgement on others.Why do you bother with these little things that really have nothing to do with you or others.Do you know the full story?Do you know these people?They could be the best parents in the world and are just finally fed up with being TOLD what to do and HOW to do it.Do you have nothing better to do? Maybe worry about your own children (if you have any) and come down off the high horse.Why is this even news? Do you see what is going on around the world? Think anybody in Libya would care about this story? They would look at you like you had two heads.Come on people...get a life.

Raif
said
0 0

It is fairly simple to determine the sexual orientation of a newborn. What isn't simple is to predict social exposure to various sexual environments. The mental consitioning that one is exposed to can alter the sexual determination. This is evident in persons such as males of efeminate qualities manifested in dance and the arts. For females the single most cause is physical unattractiveness and a hormonal imballance such as muted progesterone levels or high testosterone influences. Non of the above situations are bad they just are, and serious efforts have to be made to have persons so affected to recognize their true sexual chromatic identity and rewire the physical trauma to one that best suites each individual. Sexual orientation is neither right nor wrong it just is.

Jenn
said
0 0

I dont see what the big deal is - the child doesnt know the difference, and will when they are old enough to know what is "down there"...it is true that there are so many gender stereotypes and this is an extreme way of trying to break them but I dont see the harm in the child as long as when the time comes, they know who they are....

tmc2318
said
0 0

ya...a real firestorm....great reporting CTV

jayne
said
0 0

Imagine if all children, the world over, were born with no sex organs, just a waste disposal system. And the sex organs would develop when they began to grow into adults. How differently would we treat our children then? How much more equality would there be? Perhaps both sexes would have more opportunities and more choices? No children aborted for the sake of being a girl? It's not the neighbour's business of my sexual preference or what car I buy. My relatives and close freinds perhaps but I leave it there.

Rich
said
0 0

From what I can tell these parents are attempting to allow this child to grow without boundaries as defined by gender. Not an easy task and may well not work; however, since gender dos and don'ts are all around us, wouldn't it be nice to grow up being so confident in your own sexuality that it didn't matter to you what people thought, said or did: one day you want to wear a dress - why? Just because - why the heck not? One day you want to wear slacks, shirt and a tie - why? Why not? One day you cry at a cheesy love story, the next you cheer on the bad guy in an action packed thriller and burp, fart and scratch your way to the refrigerator. Wouldn't it be great to be able to hold yourself anyway you choose as long as you're not hurting anyone else? Don't forget these parents (again, I am assuming since I don't know them) are not trying to sway which gender this child will become; they are trying to allow him/her to live in a world where it simply shouldn't matter. Equality among genders would be great. Knowing who you are without societal stigmas holding you back from true expression would be even better.

joseph in halifax
said
0 0

Problem with being a parent - your children reap the issues resulting from the decisions you make. Storm's parents are not the ones who are going to suffer anything from this in any real sense, Storm is. There are times when our hopes and expectations with regards to our children sometimes override our appreciation of the troubles we're setting our kids up for. This is just a variation of the beauty queen mother who sees nothing else but the trophy.

Nate Glubish
said
0 0

@Adam:I think it ceased to be a "family matter" once they did a press conference to announce their choice to the world. They opened the door to a public discussion about their choice and should be prepared to accept the resulting feedback - the good with the bad.

Todd
said
0 0

Well, the idea is intriguing from an anthropological point of view, but the reality is, this is a child, and a future member of OUR society whether he/she likes it or not. And as of this moment, these parents are raising their child as a guaranteed social outcast and economic failure just to satisfy their curiosity and narcissism.

Lisa
said
0 0

You need a license to catch a fish, a license to own an a dog.....but sadly, anyone can become a parent.

Calgary, Paula
said
0 0

Maybe people just need to learn to mind their own business. Who cares! Let these parents raise their child the way they see fit. Lots of people home school their kids. There is nothing wrong with it. If they don't want anyone to know the sex of the child big deal! It's their business not ours..

MikefromCanmore
said
0 0

A firestorm? Really, a Dresden/Tokyo bombing firestorm of controversy. How about something current like an EF5 tornado of controversy or a Tsunami of controversy or perhaps a Bin Laden compound Navy SEAL storm of controversy?Or how how about just a controversy?Sensastionalising a non-story like this one (I dressed in my mother's clothes for Hallowe'en in the 60's - there was nothing else) using horrific imagery like a firestorm, further diminishes the once-regarded field of journalism to the tabloid, trash hacking it has now become.

BC Diversity Guy
said
0 0

We have far too many impediments in our society. To allow a person to grow into their own is a precious gift. Courageous attempt by the parents to provide the ultimate freedom to their child. We need more diversity in our society not less. We wish the family a happy, healthy and fun life.

G. Phelps
said
0 0

For everyone who is so critical: get over yourselves. You aren't such a good parent yourself, so stop being so judgmental about how other people decide to raise their child.

Stupid Is Stupid Does
said
0 0

Never mind the stereotyping for gender. Poor Storm is going to reap the whirlwind when he, she, it, the, goes to school. Storm isn't a persons' name it's a weather condition. What are the middle names, Joplin, Missouri?

Michael
said
0 0

I think this is wonderful :)

Sabrina
said
0 0

NEWSFLASH!!!!!!! You can still give Storm freedom of choice etc. and still celebrate ( not mask ) his/her gender.

Concerned
said
0 0

For those saying it's a family matter and we should mind our own business... that would be true if they hadn't gone to the media. How did this story get out in the first place? The announcer said they did not want to speak to the media "anymore" which means they did at first. Seems they wanted the world to know. And now that the world does know - well, we're entitled to our opinions. I think they are going to confuse this poor kid.

Peter in MB
said
0 0

Boys are Boys, and Girls are Girls� Why try to change Mother Nature? enough said.

Ty
said
0 0

why do any of you even care? what difference does it make to you if THEIR baby is a boy or girl is the kid old enough to know the diffrence??? there are thousands of uncared for kids in Canada's foster care system that will undoubtedly have far grater identity issues than this family's children yet none of you know anything about that do you??? here is a bit of advice MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS and look after your own kids there are much bigger issues in the world today than what the neighbours are up to

Anne
said
0 0

I was aghast when I read about this family. These parents are totally out to lunch, to the detriment of their children. Since when is it a bad thing to "be" a boy or a girl. We are what we are. And guess what, our brains ARE wired differently...you know all those funny things called hormones etc. Just because you CAN have children sure doesn't mean that you SHOULD.

Stephen, Winnipeg
said
0 0

I wonder whether the people who are so strongly opposed to the decisions make by the parents in this situation with regard to their child are as strongly opposed to decisions regarding which religion a child will be indoctrinated into or whether a child should be circumcised. I think the negative reaction here is due in large part to the discomfort felt by many when they see their traditional gender roles being threatened.

DOUG WHITE
said
0 0

it's their child!!! none of my business OR ANYONE ELSE"S!!!

Paul
said
0 0

What is all fuss about. So the parents have decided to not tell you and me the gender of "their" baby. Frankly, it's none of our business. Did I or anyone else knock on your door and requested to know the gender of your baby? No. Debate all you want and whatever conclusion you come to, please share your findings with the rest of us. Personal choices are private choices. The parents of Storm do not owe you or I an explanation for their decision. The idea of growing up without labels and expecations of what society expects us to be is a breathe of fresh air. Perhaps Storm's parents are on to something here, only time will tell. In the meantime, relax!

Joanne
said
0 0

I think what they are doing is nobody's business. Just because you do not agree with it doesn't make you right. Who are we to say...this has only been done once out in the open or shall I say in the news.people are easy to judge on something we read...we don't know them personally. I bet they are better parents than a lot of people out there because they truly believe what they are doing is going to help their child. There are a lot of monsters out there who actually to harm to children out there...this is just someone snooping in other peoples business and taking it to far.

Mell
said
0 0

Honestly, I don't see the harm in their decision at all. Let the child figure him/herself out. Why not? I have problems with gender stereotypes. Girls have to wear dresses, pink clothes, play with dolls, and Barbies, whereas boys are all about construction, destruction, and innovation, if you look at the toys that are marketed to the various genders. Not to mention I think people are forgetting that even if you are born a girl or boy, you might be transgendered and feel you are the opposite of what you were born. It happens. Honestly, I wish more parents would let their children choose more often. Kudos to them!

ep
said
0 0

Nobody would have cared if the parents did reveal the baby's gender...big deal

Jarrett, Ottawa
said
0 0

I believe that if they wanted to not influence the child from societal norms then it does not matter if they tell everyone else the sex of the child, but rather to just reinforce any beliefs or chosen actions by the child. By refusing to tell others the sex they are just projecting onto the child greater soceital pressures by creating a focal point for criticism. Whether society projects their ways on the child or the parents do is there really a difference? The child is still being deprived of making the choice for himself.

Jeff in Portland
said
0 0

OMG! What a stupid and egocentric pair of nimrods. Clearly a sad and cynical attention grab by the "parents". When did publicity hounds obtain a license to use their innocent children so? This "parameterless" child rearing farce would be funny if it were not the lives of real children we are talking about. Their asine ideas aside, any reasonable parent knows that releasing widespread public photos of your children, telling the world their real names and location is reckless and possibly dangerous. Who encourages a five year old to call themselves the "gender explorer". Mommy clearly has issues and taking them out on a preschooler is tantamount to child abuse. This whole sad affair makes the also toxic "Botox Mom" seem almost tolerable. At least she has admitted the whole thing was a money inspired hoax.Hey Grandparents! Hello!!! Clearly it is time to step in. How your kids raise their kids may be outside your purview but rewarding their use of the Grandkids as fodder for a media circus with a trip to Cuba is kinda weird. The future pain, social alienation and disfunction these children may someday endure is easily avoided. Take them out of the limelight, muzzle mommy and stop pretending this is about anything but personal validation.

Daniel Schegh
said
0 0

Not again. Are people still so ignorant as to believe that gender roles are created socially? We are not born as blank slates. We are born with pre-dispositions. Gender roles and stereotypes are a result of those genetic predispositions. They are a reflection of our tendencies, not a driver of them.The problem with stereotypes isn't their accuracy. It is the assumption of absolutes, that a statistical tendency has no variation. To say that men are taller than women isn't to say that all men are taller than all women, so one cannot set rules based on that assumption. But one can comment on its statistical likelihood. The same is true of essentially all gender "roles".The absurdity of what these people are trying to do has been understood for decades. People trying to raise gender neutral, or even gender-reversed, children have not only failed, they've caused great depression and harm to the children. Why not research it first. Try Stephen Pinker's The Blank Slate as a starting point.

gender/schmender
said
0 0

These kids may grow up to take gender equality to a whole new level. Just look at our little globe. We are plagued with stereotypes and roles based on gender. It is not easy to get passed the boy/girl and see the person. The children will be just fine.We underestimate their resilience.

FuZzYknUckLeS
said
0 0

Yeah Mike, because that idea works so well for people wanting to drive :roll eyes:

Garnet
said
0 0

I wonder what bathroom they will use out in public when the child gets older and there is a choice. Or do we now to have co-ed bathrooms everywhere

EJ
said
0 0

I don't understand why people are so upset about this. Why does the gender of an infant matter so much? I'm sure the parents will explain the biological differences between boys and girls once the child is old enough to understand, but this gives him/her a bit of freedom to discover their own personality free of gender stereotypes during the childhood years. I was shocked at some of the venomous responses to this story, people saying the parents should be locked-up? What exactly are these 'boundaries' that kids need regarding gender anyway? They have have to wear their hair a certain way, play with the right toys? Chances are the child will simply identify with one gender or the other in their own time, and if they never do, maybe that's not so terrible either.

Desmond A. Kilroy Langley B.C.
said
0 0

I love it, not the kid, don't really care one way or the other. No what I love is how it's driveing most of you people out there nuts. "Think of the child" BS!! whats buggin' most of you is how these parents have placed a big homophoibic Red Flag in all of your minds. Most of you automatically assume the kid will be gay (As if that matters) Its the 800lbs gorilla in the room that no one will talk about. Well suck it up , not a thing you can do about it. Me I'm gonna keep an eye on this one to how crazy it drives all of you.

Ambiguous In London
said
0 0

The Dr. knows, the siblings know, the family knows, some of the people they want to know know. So who else needs to know? It is surely none of my business or those raising a stink about it. When the child can read they will choose a bathroom door with a man or woman on it and that will be that!

it's a boy
said
0 0

Ole, some people are stupied. don't buy pink or blue if you don't care. go with white or red. or even brown. that's neutral. Anyway, back to the story. Behing a father myself of a little 18 months old BOY and proud of it. This little fellow, it is the same picture is definitively a BOY. There is no doubt. but hey why making a story of it, by looking at the headlines, I was hoping (no really hoping) that there was a baby born without a gender. like, having a bump or a hole you know where. anway, there is more crisis around, go on please

doug
said
0 0

coo coo coo coo!Wild and crazy people!These unusual folks think too highly of themselves and are just trying to be too clever.I really don't think that they are very cool people.Coo coo coo coo!

Syl
said
0 0

Some people just can't help being stupid but I feel sorry for the baby with 'parents' like that.

HW
said
0 0

You can raise your kid in whatever method you want, You are the parent. Thing is humans are social being and they will receive a harsh treatment for being "different" when they interact with society.

Conservative Mike
said
0 0

Yet one more reason why people should be forced to pass an exam and apply for a license before being allowed to have kids... (yes, I am kidding, but it's cases like this does make you wonder if ths wouldn't be a bad idea...)

chel in the Peg
said
0 0

Just another case of narcissistic parents exploiting their kids. Maybe I was raised in a progressive household, but when I was a little girl growing up in the 60s and 70s, my preferred toys were legos, toy guns, race cars, dinosaurs, etc., and no family member or friend ever tried to change that. My little brother, on the other hand, liked Barbies and frilly pajamas. It's hard to believe that in 2011 people are still stuck in the gender rut, but using your baby to make a point is not the right way to educate people.

Anon
said
0 0

I think everyone should relax and not take this so seriously.Sincerely,Eddie Izzard

Tammy
said
0 0

Eventually the sex of the child will be known. Gender aside, the oldest boy does not attend school and is home schooled without any school books or any sort of testing. I have more of an issue with that than the fact that they have chosen to kep the sex of their child to themselves.

Mark, Halifax, Nova Scotia
said
0 0

I would like to think that in this day and age we have grown to a higher understanding and tolerance to personal choices. Everyone talks about our right to choose without the restrictiveness of having people do it for us. We as a society have given up to much of that right to the politicians whom we have elected and empowered to make laws for our society. Everyone regardless or race, color or religion has the right to make choices and we should respect that without comment or criticism.

Lorne
said
0 0

There are certain societal norms around disclosure relating to newborn children. Unless the societal norms are conformed to, there will be unrest within the societal group. There is no real reason to divulge the sex of a child except that I would guess, the government requires the information in order to provide services, including health care, to the child. Whenever societal norms are not adhered to, some members, and in some cases many members of the society rise up and demand that the norms be adhered to. These kinds of activities refer back in our species history, to very early times. It is surprising that the taboos remain so strongly entrenched. My personal position is that the society as a whole do not need to know the sex of the child. It is imperative that the children obtain an appropriate upbringing such that they may, at least within reason, be able to access the society as a whole. Beyond that, I would suggest that society mind its own business and find other things with which to occupy itself.

Adam
said
0 0

This is a family matter. Everyone else should mind their own business.

Tina in Alberta
said
0 0

Why are they now doing this experiment with this poor child when it sounds like they didn't do it with the others?

Lissa
said
0 0

What's unnatural is that this child is growing up in a society that does NOT mask gender. At what point will s/he begin to feel so different as to question his/her entire upbringing?

Mariah K, FL
said
0 0

I don't approve. I agree with the people saying that the parents are treating Storm as an experiment, not as a child. The parents are more than likely doing it for the media, and it's definitely working. As for Storm, I seriously feel bad for that poor baby. To be a parent, you need to act like a parent. Sure, it may seem like they are letting Storm be free, but there's no doubt that later on in his years.. He himself will be confused of his gender. Imagine the ridicule that those parents have subjected Storm to. Let's hope he doesn't grow to hate those parents, because if mine ever did that to me, I would (rightfully) never forgive them.

Dave in Calgary
said
0 0

Same old problem raising it's head here. So many people who think that just because something is right for them it must be right for the whole world. Not True. So I have a question for you. Its their life not yours, why are you trying to live it? They don't make decisions for you so leave them alone and let the world turn as it will. There are still some primitive cultures around the world where gender is never discussed and all names are non gender specific and they are doing just fine. Live and let live people, it really does work when you respect the rights of others to choose for themselves just like you did. Or are the protesters all cult members who don't get to think for themselves?

NRM
said
0 0

Based on what I've read in other articles on this story, it sounds like the parents are creating a guidance vacuum for their children. The eldest boy in particular already seems to be having a hard time coping in society. The psychological damage is already done on that poor kid. It's one thing to be ambivilant to your kids favourite colour or ideas toward playtime, it's another to let them dress however they want and do whatever they want. This is the same reason young children aren't allowed to vote, drink, drive, enlist in the military or make serious medical decissions. They just don't have the experience or the knowledge to make life changing decissions.Children require a gentle guiding hand (not forceful directives), and not a complete absence of input followed by encourangement for bizarre choices. I really feel sorry for these kids.

Common sense
said
0 0

These children will unfortunately grow up disadvantaged because while their parents believe they are doing the right thing, gender confusion can be a tough battle for anyone. Wait until they reach high school, then the challenges will really begin.

Jim Lad
said
0 0

The run a serious risk of losing the child.If they can't tell the difference between raising a youngster and conducting a social experiment, perhaps someone else should take over.

danR
said
0 0

The doll 'Barbie' is an it.

MommaHanna
said
0 0

Here's a news flash for those "progressive" parents. Children don't understand or get gender specific "stuff" until they are a little older, like this child's siblings. They think they are opening thier child up to more possibilties. Fact, the siblings are going to be informing this younger sibling of it's gender and what they should be wearing or doing. So basically, you spoinled your own experiment by allowing the siblings to be aware of the gender. Question. Do you put a dress on them one day and a football jersey the next? If so, what do hope to accomplish by confusing this child? Reality, a 12-year old boy wearing a dress to public school is not going to be happy about the reception.

Dumb is as dumb does
said
0 0

Another example of how looney the "looney left" really is. This kind of unbridled stupidity may have ramifications in law. These parents are going to destroy this child's identity and cause this child untold grief in how it relates to the world around it This is totally irresponsible.

Glenn C
said
0 0

Another bunch trying to make a name for themselves.............GET A GRIP! If there is a medical issue, get it solved, NOW! If not GOODBYE.

Paul
said
0 0

Anyone want to take a shot at the definition for "parent".....There are some dumb people on this planet.

Intelligent Liberal
said
0 0

I don't see a problem with this. When I was little well meaning people kept giving me 'boy toys' like tanks and dump trucks, but what I liked to do is sit Barbie in them and pretend she was driving.