Sam Moehlig spent three years stuck in what his family called the deep dark hole. Desperate to find a cure for his unhappiness, his mother, Kathie Moehlig, immersed herself in research. Eventually, she discovered the word transgender. Related Im a transgender b*tch who dont play about my kid: A trans mom on raising a resilient trans son When Sam Moehlig was 11, she approached him with that research and explained that transgender meant he could be a boy. Before Moehlig even finished speaking, Sam Moehlig threw himself at her, squeezing her in a hug and crying.Yes, yes, I want that, he told her. I want that, Mom. Thats me. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today It was the first time he smiled in years.Moehlig has faced many tough decisions in her life, but as she told LGBTQ Nation during a sit-down with the now-25-year-old Sam Moehlig supporting her trans son wasnt one of themAs a person whos in recovery, as a person who has been a life coach for decades, as a person whos an ordained minister, being able to show up for people and see them for who they are, its just been my history. The wrong damn mamaSam Moehlig & Kathie Moehlig | Provided by Kathie MoehligSam Moehlig describes himself as not a pusher, someone who does not stand up to authority figures. When doctors denied him treatment, he would have given up. But his mother did not accept the refusals.You just said that to the wrong damn mama, Moehlig said.She became his fiercest advocate, forcing the hand of Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego to prescribe puberty blockers.I wouldnt have gone anywhere if it hadnt been for the support of my family, especially my mom and her dont tell me no attitude, Sam Moehlig said. Ultimately, it saved my life.Moehligs effectiveness at Rady, which opened a gender identity clinic in 2012 that sources have said still operates underground, earned her a reputation among other parents of trans children in San Diego. They began coming to her as a resource to help them navigate school, medical, and insurance settings. Moehlig recognized she needed an organization and official title to be taken seriously. So in 2015, she founded Trans Family Support Services (TFSS), formalizing her support network for trans families.Moehligs support to other parents extends well beyond teaching them to use affirming names and pronouns. She coaches them in how to navigate insurance, push recalcitrant doctors to treat gender dysphoria, and correct discrimination in schools.To Sam, a 16-year-old client at TFSS who is separate from Moehligs son, those lessons were lifesaving. When he came out at 10, mired in dysphoria with puberty looming, Sam and his mom attended a support group led by Moehlig. It was a big part of the reason why I was able to get out of the depressive funk, Sam said in a video commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the organization.Sam said the conversation was insanely valuable because it taught his mom how to manage the extensive bureaucratic barriers in place before one could obtain puberty blockers at a time when survival was Sams day-to-day concern. He credits TFSS with saving both his life and his relationship with his mom.TransFamily Support Services ensures that your family can support you, Sam said. For trans kids, sometimes its not enough to be a loving parent. Motherhood as advocacy Kathie Moehlig & Sam Moehlig | Provided by Kathie MoehligAlthough still based in San Diego with a focus on trans people under 30, the organization has grown significantly in the past decade, serving California and beyond with a majority transgender staff.TFSS has served 7,000 trans people and their families across the nation, with its youngest participant at 3 years old and its oldest 88. No matter the age, Moehlig mothers them.Theyre all my kids. I have a sense of responsibility to every single one of the trans individuals, she said.Because her public advocacy stems from motherhood, Moehlig has often been discounted.Theres been many places where Ive been looked at as just a mom, Moehlig said. Those who underestimate her quickly learn shes an effective leader who belongs at the table. In 2022, TFSS planned a queer family Halloween festival, Boo Bash, with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and a Disney villain-themed drag show. At the height of anti-drag hate, the family-friendly show caught the attention of national right-wing media and spurred a social media hate campaign.It was a tricky situation. Moehlig was torn between capitulating to the hate machine for the safety of attendees and standing firm in the conviction that all types of families should get to celebrate Halloween in an inclusive space.TFSS launched a GoFundMe to strengthen event security and organized a Wall of Love with other local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. Over a hundred volunteers surrounded the event entrance blocking views and noise from 20 protesters across the street so families could be greeted and cheered for as they entered.This October, the organization held its fourth annual Boo Bash. The road ahead A contingent from TFSS at the San Diego Pride Parade | Provided by Kathie MoehligNot every fight has been successful. An Alabama chapter of TFSS closed after the lone on-the-ground employee felt too unsafe to continue in the wake of their unsuccessful campaign against the states ban on gender-affirming medical care for trans youth. The decision to fold was heart-wrenching and took Moehlig forever, even after staff members said it was necessary.TFSS pivoted to hosting virtual support groups for parents of trans children in the South, and fortunately, locals kept up the annual Alabama Trans Pride that TFSS had started.Seeing the need for more political advocacy as other states attacked trans healthcare and trans youth in sports, Moehlig founded the Alliance for TransYouth Rights with other parents.We sit in a place where were barely hanging on to the rights, and many of them weve already lost, she said. But Im hopeful, Im extremely hopeful, that were going to get it back. Its gonna take time. Its gonna take work. Its gonna be hard, but were gonna get there.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.