Do you know what normally happens when parents betray their childrens’ trust like that? THIS:
She was presenting herself very masculinely and was became successful in ahletics. Magda was insistent that SGD needed therapy because she wouldn't conform to traditional gender norms. (Step Granddaughter) went to therapy with conservative therapist affiliated with her ultra conservative Catholic Church three times a week.
Her bastard younger brother, on Magda's order, stole her diary and gave it to Magda. Magda read her diary out loud at Easter dinner. She outed her as a lesbian and gave her brother a new entertainment system for his bedroom. Magda decided that she needed to go to gay conversion camp because having this butch lesbian in her family was unacceptable. My other nieces and nephews saw this happening and it really scared them. They avoided SGD's brother because they were afraid that he would tell Magda something to make her send them away too. Magda made pitting her grandchildren against each other an art. I'm surprised they are close as adults.
SGD was gone for a whole year. Her parents told everyone that got was accepted last minute as a foreign exchange student in Mexico. She really was in Mexico, but not in Monterey with a nice family. She was in a torture camp in the jungles of Sinaloa with a bunch of other rich gay kids. she came back 30 pounds lighter, dead eyes in the eyes, and a broken ankle.
SGD knew it was just easier to give in than to fight. She bid her time until she turned 18. She wore the dresses, took the medications, stayed home, and tried to keep a low profile. She took off on her 18th birthday and hasn't spoken to her parents since. There is a photo from the first family dinner after she got back. She's wearing a very femme outfit, hair and nails done with eyes in a far off galaxy. That photo always put me off because she looks so out of it, it's the first thing you see in the photo.
I just learned of this delightful piece of family history. I knew she was No contact with her mom and step father, but she also went No contact with her father for signing the papers to send her away.