Teenagers Became Lovers After They Both Had Sex Changes

Teenagers Became Lovers After They Both Had Sex Changes

As they pose together in their swimwear, Arin Andrews and Katie Hill look like any other teenage boyfriend and girlfriend.

But just two years ago Arin was a girl called Emerald, and Katie was a boy called Luke.

Arin, 17, and Katie, 19, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, have both undergone surgery to change their gender and now are enjoying being in their bodies they always wished for.

Just over a year ago Katie, a university student, had gender reassignment surgery, thanks to an amazing £25,000 donation from an anonymous donor who read her story in a local newspaper.

Now, Arin, who is still at school, has undergone an operation to remove both of his breasts, and is proudly showing off his new male physique.

For the last year, Arin has been binding up his chest to try to hide his female body, but can now go topless for the first time after his surgery in Cleveland, Ohio, in June.

He said: "Now I can wear a tank top, which I couldn't before, I can go swimming shirtless, I can walk outside, I can just be a regular guy now.

"I hated my breasts, I always felt like they didn't belong - now I can finally be comfortable in my own body."

He added: "Now when I'm out in a public pool, or lifting weights, no-one raises an eyebrow, they just think I'm a guy - just a skinny dude in the gym trying to build some muscle.

"My family have really surprised me with how supportive they have been throughout the surgery. I'm so lucky to have them and Katie to rely on."

Katie and Arin met nearly two years ago at a support group for transgender teenagers and bonded through their shared experiences.

Katie said: "To me, Arin's just my Arin, he's always looked manly to me.

"But now he's had the surgery he's much more confident and comfortable with himself."

But now that the teens' physical appearance matches their gender, both of them are excited to be able to go swimming, boating and sunbathe like other couples.

Katie added: "Being transgender myself, I understand Arin probably better than anybody else, how good he feels and how complete he feels."

In the future, Arin might consider having genital surgery, but this can be complicated, and for now he's delighted with his new body.

Both the couple's families are supportive of their relationship and say the way the way the teenagers have supported each other has helped in their transition.

Arin's mum Denise Andrews said: "Seeing Katie go through her surgery was helpful to Arin.

"It was being around it and seeing her getting to transform. And being a couple at the time was I think just the cherry on the cake.

"Every transgender person would love to have the transformation physically because it just completes them as a person."

But there have been difficulties as they've come to terms with losing their son and daughter, and also some of their own friends.

Denise said: "There are still a group of people we don't interact with any more. I know that they questioned me as a parent, they're not comfortable with it."

But she added: "A lot of people worry about losing the gender of their child. But as you look through albums and realise your babies are growing up, we also watched them grow up and turn into somebody different.

"Whether they stay the same gender or not, they become independent."

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