- I started to feel like, maybe they're transphobic.
- Or maybe they're closeted trans.
- You know what, I feel like that's a thing.
- It is a thing, it is totally a thing.
(mellow music)
Hi, my name is Christina.
- Hi, I'm Skylar, and my preferred pronouns are he and him.
- And my pronouns are she and her.
(mellow music)
- I was like mom, I know you think I'm gay, but I'm not.
She didn't like, fully understand.
And then she did her own research on it.
She became more accepting of it.
It was better for me because it made my life easier and
happier as a person to know that my mom was okay with it,
cause my mom means like everything to me.
- I was physically and verbally assaulted,
I just had people like scream awful things at me
while I was walking through the hallway.
But I think, once I was in seventh grade,
it honestly wasn't as bad, it's just, you know,
sixth grade is such a hard year anyway for everyone,
and especially when you're trans and you're trying
to deal with all of these things and trying to just deal
with junior high school in general, it it so stressful.
(upbeat music)
A big part of me is being trans, and like,
if that means that that person isn't going to be friends
with me then so be it, because honestly,
I'd rather that people know that I'm trans
and not be friends with me,
than someone not know that I'm trans and be friends with me
for so long and not know this huge part of my identity
that I'm so proud of.
- After I transitioned, my friends were so supportive of me.
Yeah, they don't bring up that I am transgender,
they don't bring it up at all, because it's like,
what is there to bring up?
(upbeat music)
Yeah, so I didn't wanna go to the girls restroom,
and then I couldn't go to the boys restroom,
because everyone just looked at me.
I would actually like, take my time and walk
across the campus to go use the port-a-potties.
The fact that I actually wanted to go to a port-a-potty
instead of a bathroom that was marked--
- That's really sad.
- It's sad because they're not clean.
- It's just so awful that like, trans people are made out
to almost be like, if we're predators or something,
like going into the bathroom to do something to someone,
you know, I feel like people should just able to use
whatever bathroom they wanna use, I mean,
it's a bathroom, you know?
(upbeat music)
- A teacher that I really remember in my high school,
her name is Miss Marquez.
When all my classmates were calling me by my other name,
the one that I wanted, she kinda took note of that,
and she pulled me aside one day, and she's like,
so, you want me to call you Skylar?
And I'm like, yes, please.
And then she's like, do you want me to
call you by male pronouns?
And I was like well, yes, I would appreciate that.
Out of all the teachers I had, she really made me feel
okay about myself.
- You know, I've dealed with awful counselors
that weren't accepting, but, I mean,
I've also had really good experiences.
My third grade teacher, before I transitioned,
has never messed my pronouns up,
has never messed my name up,
I just wish that there were more teachers like him,
because honestly, I've just not had the best teachers.
(mellow music)
If you're a trans person out there that is
watching this video right now,
I just want you know that it's gonna be hard,
but it's so worth it in the end when you are able
to be yourself and be able to feel comfortable in your skin.
(mellow music)
We've been in your bathroom forever.
- We've been there.
I've seen the men's restroom, it's not that clean.
Girls restrooms are cleaner.
(laughter)
It's just true.
(logo whooshes)
(hinge squeaks)