As an adult with experience as both an educator and a registered nurse, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to support trans youth. They are in a marginalized group with a history of being disproportionately bullied and victims of violence. I’m ashamed to have seen it occurring in schools and and in healthcare.
The notion that the cisgendered students would be experiencing violence or negatively impacted by this in anyway is shocking to me. I’m proud to say that some of the people I love most are trans and if there was any way I could have lessened the burden of their childhood experiences, I would have leapt at the opportunity. They are without question, the most tender, compassionate and understanding humans I’ve known. I have no doubt much of this is attributed to the struggles of being trans in a world that is often not accepting of something outside of the binary. I only wish anyone reading this comment could really experience what wonderful humans they are.
With inclusivity taught in the home, we can help to mitigate the violence and hate crimes. Even before that, protections like these in school are essential for human rights.