Transgender girl, 6, 'tried to tear off her penis'

A six-year-old transgender child tried to pull off her penis and refused to drink water at school to avoid using the boy's toilets in a desperate attempt to become a little girl.

Briella Carmichael was born a boy but she has been identifying as a girl since she was a toddler. The year one student from Melbourne was diagnosed with gender dysphoria last September after her parents, Scotty and Kirra, sought help when their son Baylin said he wanted to live as a girl. 

Six-year-old Briella Carmichael was born a boy but was diagnosed with gender dysphoria last September and now attends her Melbourne school as a female student 'Since she could even walk she's gone for the girly things (toys, dresses). But then she started telling me when she looked in the mirror she sees a girl,' Mrs Carmichael told Daily Mail Australia.

'Once she asked if she was going to grow up and look like her dad with facial hair. She was hysterical and uncontrollably crying when I said yes. She would ask 'why wasn't I born a girl?' and 'will my willy go away?'.

'I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't have the answers. I knew this wasn't normal and thought we needed to get help. 

'People had said Baylin was going to be gay, but I had no idea it would be to this extent.'

Mrs Carmichael said the final straw came when her child started to 'self harm'.

Briella Carmichael was born as a boy named Baylin before he started identifying as a girl as a toddler

Briella, pictured here as Baylin, was diagnosed with gender dysphoria last September after her parents, Scotty and Kirra, sought help when their son Baylin said he wanted to live as a girl 'She started to harm herself downstairs. It was over a period of time and I don't know how long for. She tried to rip (her penis) off and it swelled up and got infected,' she said.

'She was also off school for a week for being dehydrated. She stopped drinking because she didn't want to use the boy's toilets. She was so dehydrated her lips were all chapped.'

Briella's parents started attending transgender information sessions before they decided to see a gender specialist with their child.

She was then diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

'At home we were calling her Briella and the family started using female pronouns - she requested us to. Slowly over time we started buying girl stuff. It made her so happy,' Mrs Carmichael said. 

Briella's parents started attending transgender information sessions before they decided to see a gender specialist with their child. She was then diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Briella's two-year-old sister Shaylah (left) and eight-year-old brother Brock (right) have been very supportive and always use female pronouns when talking about their sister

Ever since she was a toddler, Briella has opted for girl's toys and clothes with the six-year-old loving Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and Frozen 'But then she would go to school and they would call her Baylin and ask if she was a boy or girl. I then thought we needed to transition.'

ranbourne South Primary School, in Melbourne's east, helped Baylin make the change to Briella and organised for the Safe Schools program to come in, which helps teach students about their gay, transgender and gender-diverse peers.

'Before she didn't have one friend because Baylin was shy, withdrawn and sad. Now she’s Briella she is invited places, she’s in the girl group and she’s got best friend necklaces.

'She has attitude just like every little girl... I find her dancing in her room with a hairbrush. She is a different kid.'

Briella's parents Scotty (pictured) and Kirra decided to allow their son to transition to a girl. She is pictured here with her eight-year-old brother Brock on her first day officially being Briella.

Briella's mother Kirra said her daughter would become so upset by the thought of growing into a man that she started to 'self harm', which is when the mum of three decided things had to change.

Her parents and staff at Cranbourne South Primary School, in Melbourne's east, helped Baylin make the change to Briella and organised for the Safe Schools program to come in, which helps teach students about their gay, transgender and gender-diverse peers.

Mrs Carmichael said the next step will be legally changing her daughter's name to Briella, but admitted it would be a difficult step. 'It’s a huge thing, but I know that she’s not going to go back,' she said. 'People don’t understand what us parents have to go through to get to this point.

'I had so many sleepless nights where I'd cry thinking is this the right thing?' Mrs Carmichael said she won't speak about other options like hormone therapy with her daughter until she approaches her about it when she is older.