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"ABC show focuses on Stark family, gender changes

By Rich Heldenfels
Beacon Journal popular culture writer

POSTED: 02:12 p.m. EDT, Jul 20, 2009

Primetime: Family Secrets turns its attention to a Massillon family dealing with gender changes in Tuesday's telecast.

Airing at 10 p.m. on ABC, the program looks at a year in the life of Chloe Prince, formerly Ted Prince; Rene Prince, who married Chloe when she was still Ted but has stayed with her since the change; and their two sons, ages 7 and 6.

On her Pink Thoughts blog (http://chloeprince.blogspot.com), Chloe wrote: ''I ask that you watch this episode with an open heart and open mind, reserve judgment, and understand this is only my story, and does not represent all Transgendered or intersexed people. . . .

''This episode is not about exercising any agendas for the LGBT community. If you're looking for political correctness or walls to be broken through by this story, you will be disappointed,'' she said. ''However, if you are looking for the honesty told from compelling innocence, without bias or reservation to share, then you will want to look forward to the episode.''

Reported by JuJu Chang, the hourlong telecast follows the day-to-day life of Chloe and Rene, including how they have explained Chloe's change to the children.

Chloe was married to Rene and a father when she learned she had Klinefelter's syndrome, two X and one Y chromosome, where women generally have two Xs and men an X and a Y. The diagnosis came as part of treatment for a bee sting — Chloe is severely allergic — which appears to have amped up her female hormones and caused changes such as her growing breasts.

The young Ted had felt feminine urges, and Rene knew that he was a cross-dresser when they married. But as her body began to change, Chloe decided to it was time to change from Ted to Chloe.

While this is covered in the the program, it is keenly interested in the way Chloe, Rene and the children cope.

It has been difficult for all of them. The boys have heard their parents argue.

As Chloe has settled more into her female identity, she has found herself more attracted to men — while still married to Rene (and on her blog, Chloe still refers to Rene as her ''wife''). She was also hurt when Rene posed for a Mother's Day picture with the boys — but without Chloe.

Rene, meanwhile, has a companion, but not the man she married. She isolated herself rather than explain to friends about Chloe (although, near the end of Primetime, she sends them an e-mail explaining the situation). And it is Chang who tells her that Chloe spent $70,000 on gender-reassignment surgeries in Thailand. Chloe ''always handled the finances,'' Rene said.

Rene, according to ABC, was not available for comment — and Chloe is in Thailand for additional surgery. (Chloe does plan to have a webcast up on her blog after the telecast, as well as a chat feature to answer questions.)

But on her blog, Chloe says Rene was not thrilled about going on TV.

''She really didn't want to be on TV discussing our private business. She was also concerned about our children and how they would be treated after. Then there was the extended family to consider and how this would affect all of them,'' Chloe wrote. ''But I also felt 'if not us, then who will represent us?' The fact is, there are not many like Rene and I.''"


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