Transphobia is the fear of and discrimination against transgender people and people thought to be transgender, regardless of their actual gender identity. Transphobia can lead to bias and even violence, which can make coming out as transgender even harder.

Current studies say that more than 80 percent of transgender people have been physically assaulted based on their actual or perceived gender identity. Some transgender people report losing their jobs, being ignored by their families or losing friends when they share their gender identities.

Transphobia hurts everyone. Are you a guy who wanted to paint or write poetry, but thought it wouldn’t be “masculine” enough? Are you a girl who wanted to wrestle with your friend, but thought it wouldn’t be “ladylike”? Supporting trans people means supporting everyone’s right to just be themselves, rather than bowing to narrow and limiting expectations of masculinity and femininity.

Trans people and non-trans people alike can talk about gender identity and ways your school/community meets the needs of transgender youth or falls short. Remind everyone about ways this affects everyone, not just people who are trans. For example, trans people often encounter problems in gender-specific bathrooms and prefer single-person locking bathrooms. When you think about it, a single-person locking restroom can serve the needs of a lot of different kinds of people, including people who have disabilities, people who have small children or relatives who need some assistance using the bathroom, as well as people who are very shy or private.

Another example: everyone has the right to a public education, although many trans people don’t feel safe at school. And if school isn’t safe for everyone, then something is wrong. When one person or one group gets discriminated against, it makes it easier to start discriminating against people of other groups too. It’s the community’s job to figure out what went wrong, and how to fix it.

“Bending The Mold - An Action Kit for Transgender Youth” has lots more ideas for you and your allies to make your school safer and more inclusive for all students. Check it out!