This article does not express my personal thoughts or beliefs. This is to shine light on a situation that not many people are aware of. People who are transgender are part of the LGBTQ+ Community however are usually identified as their own sub community. 

In the past few years, many people have come out as being part of the LGBTQ+ Community. This includes people who are Transgender. However, there is a concerning amount of people who don’t accept those part of LGBTQ+ Community. This can lead to discrimination, bullying, etc. But most importantly, some members of the community have been denied certain rights. This is why there have been multiple movements trying to help those who are LGBTQ+, a slogan some of these movements share is “Protect Trans Kids”.

While there definitely are adults who face slack for being LGBTQ+, many more people under the age of 18 (mostly teens) have been coming out into the community. Ever since the rise of social media, teens who were part of this community were finally able to see they are not alone, and were able to feel comfortable considering themselves part of the community. But just for being part of the community and who they are they are discriminated against. It could be something on a smaller scale such as teasing or bullying, but in some cases it could be something much larger such as being denied education. But the scale of the issue doesn’t matter, all that does matter is that these people are facing problems just for showing people who they truly are.

But to truly understand the problems they face, we must first understand them individually and who they are. So I interviewed a member of the Transgender Community, who wished to remain anonymous, about who they are and the problems they face.

Q: What/Who do you Identify as?

A: I identify as male, he/him.

Q: How did you personally find out you were/wanted to be transgender?

A: I was uncomfortable identifying as a woman and I had always been more on the masculine side, even as a child.

Q: What problems do you personally face in your day to day life?

A: In school, if there is a substitute, they see my legal name and not my preferred name, so I am called that name in front of the class. Also, since I am biologically female, I need certain products, and the clear backpacks do not help me because I can’t go into the women’s restrooms because I don’t look like a woman.

Q: What problems are you aware of that you might not personally face but you know others in the community face?

A: I have heard a lot about discrimination. My friend, who is also transgender, has a father who doesn’t support them. Parents aren’t as supportive as they need to be.

Sometimes, it also feels like we aren’t properly supported by the government. Even the fact that it’s scary to talk to your doctor about these things is a problem. Even when you are in a part of America that allows it, when Trump came into power, he discriminated against us, which is a problem. It’s just scary.

Q: What are some solutions that you propose to these problems?

A: I think gender neutral bathrooms need to be readily available, along with products for biological women readily available. Also, something people can go to, such as a trans hotline, so they can feel supported.

Q:  Do you have anything else to add?

A: I have a viewpoint on gender specific sports. I don’t believe trans women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports, and the same for trans men. There are very few men competing in trans sports. That’s because biological women cannot compete with biological men. And biological men are stronger than biological women. So if trans women play in women’s sports, they have an upper hand. I think there should be some sports that cross over to make more unisex sports for an actual competition for both biological men and women players.

There you have it, while to some “Protect Trans Kids” might seem like just a slogan, it is a reaction to what people see as a genuine problem backed up by personal experience. Whether you support this slogan or not, to those involved, this is a large problem with a lot of emotional weight behind it.