A *freshman, age 14, attends NHS; he feels like the world is fighting against him.  He confronts a variety of different struggles after coming out as transgender.

He faces problems as simple as the way he walks or the way he sits.  Bathroom access is not assumed. 

He meets with someone, and he learns that he can only use one bathroom in the whole school. 

It’s like he is getting pulled back from life because he can’t do anything feminine without fearing that someone will make fun of him. So, he feels like he has to act like a stereotypical male.  

He doesn’t tell many people that he is transgender because he is afraid of how people will react after finding out.  In the past, incidents surface where people act hostile after finding out. He fears.

He is nervous that people will judge him that he won’t even correct people if they use the wrong pronouns. He says that when they use the wrong pronouns, he feels self conscious. He prefers people ask questions instead of assuming. 

He says that people treat him differently after finding out he is transgender.

 “It’s kind of hard for me because I’ve known these people since I first moved here, and now they won’t even talk to me.” 

He says coming out to his family is the hardest part, but eventually it grew on them.  He says both his family and his new friends now are supportive.  Most teachers try their hardest to make him feel welcome in their classes.

Being transgender is not a choice, it is something individuals learn to live with.

(*Anonymous to protect the identity of the individual who shared his story.)