Someone right now is writing a letter, planning what they are going to say to their parents when they come out. Someone is being shoved out of the bathroom of their choice right now because their birth sex doesn’t match the sign on the door. Someone is crying right now because they feel like they don’t fit in, because society has pushed them out. Just because it’s not you doesn’t mean it’s not someone. And that someone may be closer than you think.

In light of the recent “bathroom” law, all of California’s K-12 schools are required to allow transgender students to use the restroom or locker room that reflects their gender identity. We, as a society, are more accepting than we once were. We can accept that there are transgender people. With that being said, however, many of us are ignorant to the matter because it doesn’t directly affect us. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community needs more recognition. Some people aren’t affected by different sexualities and gender identifications so they simply don’t take the time to understand them.

When people hear “transgender” or “pangender” for the first time they are confused. We are here to say that it’s okay to be confused at first. What’s not okay is to judge these classifications or question their legitimacy. Doing so contributes to the gender binary. Gender binarism is the outdated idea that there is only male and female, which discourages people from openly mixing, crossing genders.

Gender, in reality, is a fluid concept that some people reject altogether. Just because gender identity isn’t something everyone struggles with doesn’t mean we have to be arrogant. So instead of saying “the opposite gender,” say “another gender,” and we can instantly be more accepting.

Yes, as the law stands, transgender students have the right to use the school facilities they feel comfortable using. No, the law doesn’t erase homophobia or transphobia or typical arrogance. Just as with the Civil Rights movement, statemandated desegregation did not get rid of racism.

Often times, with social reform, people don’t want to accept that things are changing. Yet change is inevitable.

Though the law passed, in theory, makes it easier for transgender students to use the restroom of their choice, it doesn’t make it any easier to live the rest of their lives.

If we aren’t committed to having a general understanding of the LGBT community, we are making it more difficult for them to feel like they are a part of our society.

We can’t continue to pretend that transgender people don’t exist. We need to give these people, these humans, recognition. We need to swallow our judgement and open our hearts.

For more on this subject go to http://www.hrc.org/