Kiwi transgender boy's online video draws applause

A viral video of a 9-year-old Kiwi asking for support to live as a boy after being born a girl has impressed transgender advocates and prompted an overwhelmingly positive response from the public.

In the video, which has been watched more than 5 million times, Milla Brown tells the camera he was bullied at school.

Milla was born a girl and his mother Renee Fabish, formerly of New Plymouth, posted the moving video to Facebook to explain Milla was now going to live and identify as a boy.

Ms Fabish said in the video that Milla was "extremely happy" living as a boy and the family supported his journey "wholeheartedly".

Toni Duder, communications manager for lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual group Rainbow Youth, said she thought the video was "pretty amazing".

She said a lot of transgender and gender-diverse young people came to Rainbow Youth to find help and support they were not getting at home.

"A lot of them are doing it on their own. We have a lot of people looking to make a family out of the young people that are here."

Seeing the support of Milla's family in the video was "heartening" and "a step in the right direction", Ms Duder said.

"To have a young person actually backed by their parents from the start is just amazing. It's really, really cool to see."

Ms Duder said regardless of a person's age, it was important for parents to take their children seriously if they expressed confusion.

An image from Milla Brown's video.

"It's important to remember that liking dolls or liking super-heroes isn't indicative of someone's gender identity.

"It might be a phase, but it doesn't matter - their unhappiness is what's the problem."

People on the Herald's Facebook page shared overwhelmingly positive responses to the video.

Lana Geddes described it as "parenting done right" while Robyn Duckett commented: "How fabulous - unconditional love - what parents should be - loving their child no matter what! Go well in the world!"

Ms Fabish, who lives with her family in Brisbane, told NZME. News Service over the weekend that the video was only ever intended to make friends and family aware Milla would be living as a boy.

"They know, but it was just putting it out there publicly so no one had any questions."

She said the response to the video has been overwhelming.

"It's definitely taken me by surprise and I'm very overwhelmed at the response that it's got."

Join the conversation on the Herald Life Facebook page