As a fellow genderqueer and middle school student, I know that falling into the former or both of those categories is hard. Identifying as something different than the gender you were assigned at birth is a tough challenge, especially as a younger kid who has more trouble expressing their new gender. I know for a fact that having protective parents while trying to change is hard at times (for a number of reasons), especially so for those of us who haven't come out to them yet.

Studies show that most trans adults experienced gender dysphoria as soon as 7 years old, and it will only progress as they get older, learn more about being trans and/or genderqueer, and experience more discrimination towards those types of people in their social lives.

I know from experience that people who've come out as trans will be teased and bullied, and having gender dysphoria and being incredibly uncomfortable with their sex/gender assigned at birth is a consequence of this.

I've heard things said like, 'If you're really a guy, then why do you use the girl's bathrooms?' and it hurts to hear kids saying that, even more so if it's to or about you.

So, even though it may seem like a small change, adding gender-neutral bathrooms to public areas, especially schools, I feel would help a lot of trans, non-binary, and any other kind of genderqueer feel more accepted and more comfortable at school.