#mixed race problems

@dhirondelleetdepainfrais said:

I have a story set in the south of France, around real-life time. The main character's (16, trans) sidekick is mixed Japanese and Spanish. She has a little brother, a Japanese transgender mother (who hasn't transitioned, and doesn't want to), and a Spanish cisgender mother. They form a healthy and happy lesbian couple.

However, at one point in the story, the Japanese mother falls ill, and has to go to the hospital for multiple weeks. Fortunately, she comes back later alive and healthy (so I think she doesn't fall into the "bury your gays/kill your poc tropes). The rest of the story, the family doesn't live another major angsty event, and lives happily.

The goal of this arc is to allow the sidekick a character growth. It changes her view on death, as well as her relationship with her little brother for the better.

My question is: Is there anything to look out for in this part of the story, like a problematic trope for example ?

P.S.: I based this character's ethnicity on a friend of mine who has an East Asian mother and a white father.

Context for why this works

I think this is an unexpectedly realistic scenario given the current state of LGBTQIA+ rights work in Japan. Obviously, the couple would not be able to have marital rights in Japan as a lesbian couple (Gay marriage is still illegal in Japan). Furthermore, the requirements for adults in Japan who wish to change their gender marker include a diagnosis for gender dysphoria and surgeries that result in sterilization. On paper, this couple could legally be recognized by the government as a cisgender family in Japan because without the Japanese wife transitioning surgically, she would be identified by the government as her gender at birth. Thus, it makes sense that the couple would choose to reside in the country that neither requires surgery to change gender markers nor prohibits gay marriage.

What I am curious about is what happens if the family ever goes back to Japan, where the Japanese mother would be identified by their deadname and their gender at birth (Ex. Immigration, Government registries). I am similarly curious as to what this means for the side character. Under new laws that come into effect in 2022, young adults who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria as children are permitted to change their gender markers without the surgical requirements, and if your character is 16, they qualify to retain their Japanese citizenship. 

I would also like to see how this side character interacts with their Japanese heritage. Despite the obstacles that being trans poses for Japanese people, I hope that you can have them engage with their Japanese heritage in positive ways. Europe (Including France) is notorious for racism and xenophobia towards non-European individuals, religious minorities and people of color. Having a positive relationship with one’s heritage is something essential for many mixed race people in real life, but this is rarely depicted in fiction as often as it should.

- Marika.

Happy interracial family, happy interracial queer family: me likey :)

One thing that may be worth looking into for the sick mom arc is to research and ask trans folks what their experiences are with medical professionals and being in the hospital, because (at least in my irl circle of trans friends) that’s a very common struggle and anxiety. Not saying to make it traumatic (definitely no!) but it might help you write the mom’s experience with as many realistic emotions and details as possible. Another thing you can ask around for is experiences by trans people who are asian in multiracial families or multiracial trans people, to see if there are unique intersections that will help flesh out the family’s dynamic and their day-to-day!