I write to you today as someone struggling at the intersection of multiple identities: as a person who identifies as trans and a therian, daily life is a battlefield filled with hate and misunderstanding. I am one of many grappling with such issues. As a teenager, my struggle was so severe that I attempted suicide.

It is critical that we create supportive educational environments to help young people navigate their identities safely. That is why I am advocating the implementation of mandatory LGBTQIA+ health education classes in all middle schools. This education should include an overview of the LGBTQIA+ community, a definition of terms, and a description of the unique health and societal challenges these individuals face.

Additionally, we demand that all students have a counseling session with their respective school counselor, focused on personal identity and orientation. This includes dialogue about being "in the closet" or identifying as straight and cis-gendered and should incorporate guidance on how to come out, if applicable.

Lastly, this petition also calls for an anti-bullying curriculum that specifically addresses therian bullying. Bullying rates for LGBTQIA+ students are alarmingly high - 74.1% of LGBTQIA+ students reported being verbally insulted because of their sexual orientation, according to a 2017 National School Climate Survey by GLSEN. Therefore, schools must integrate a comprehensive bullying prevention program to ensure safer educational environments for all students.

Let us courageously face these issues head-on and make a substantial difference in the lives of countless struggling students. Please, sign this petition and push our schools towards acceptance, understanding, and respect.