05/20/2026
"I would drive to every Walmart in America and buy every dress for ‘him’ now if I could have ‘him’ back." A father, to Ty Herndon, after losing his transgender daughter. Featured on Nashville's podcast, The Patrick Custer Show: the only place on Broadway where shame gets bounced at the door and hope is always on the house. Full episode ( #08) here:
https://www.thepatrickcustershow.com
*Content note: discussion of the loss of a transgender child and parental rejection.
In partnership with GLAAD
Guest: Ty Herndon
Host: Patrick Custer
Podcast: The Patrick Custer Show (follow/subscribe)
Country music artist Ty Herndon shares one of the most devastating moments from his memoir tour. “A country-boy, redneck dad” approached Ty after a performance and told him about the transgender daughter he had at 16. The dad said “I hated my ‘son’ because of how I was raised.” He drove the son 200 miles away and dropped her off. Shortly after, the she was dead.
Ty tearfully shares with the audience: "Don't do that to your kids."
The father is making his mission to share his regret so other parents would not have to live it.
Resources for LGBTQ+ youth and their families:
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678-678
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
- PFLAG National (resources for parents of LGBTQ+ kids): 1-202-467-8180
- 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Family Acceptance Project: familyproject.sfsu.edu
