How To Help Transgender Students: 4 Ways To Support LGBT Youth After Trump's Rule Change

The Departments of Education and Justice withdrew their support of Obama-era guidelines for how schools should treat transgender students Wednesday. Although Education Secretary Betsy DeVos emphasized her agency would continue to protect transgender students from bullying, trans advocates see the White House's deference to the states on trans issues as a step backward.

"This is a mean-spirited attack on hundreds of thousands of students who simply want to be their true selves and be treated with dignity while attending school," Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said in a statement.

There are an estimated 150,000 transgender minors ages 13 to 17 in the U.S., and research has shown they typically face a much different reality at school than cisgender students. According to a 2013 school climate survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 75 percent of transgender students felt unsafe at school.

Here are four ways that people can support transgender students.

1. Proper use of names and pronouns

It's hard for students to feel supported if they aren't referred to by their chosen names and pronouns. Although sometimes it's not always immediately clear which pronouns are appropriate. GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy group, has recommended that people listen and try to pick up which pronouns the person's friends are using to refer to him or her. If that's not an option, GLAAD recommends that people share their preferred pronouns before asking which pronouns another person would prefer.

2. Donate to organizations supporting transgender youth

The following organizations are just some of many that support trans youth. The groups listed below are national organizations, but people looking to donate should also search for local and state groups.

The Transgender Law Center

National Center For Transgender Equality

GLSEN

Human Rights Campaign

Trans Student Educational Resources

Trans Youth Equality Foundation

The Trans Youth Project at the University of Washington

The GLBT National Help Center

3. Reach out to state representatives

Since state lawmakers convened at the beginning of the year, more than a dozen "bathroom bills" have been introduced into state legislatures that would mandate what bathrooms transgender students in public schools can use. An updated list of these bills and where they currently are in the legislative process can be found at the National Conference of State Legislatures website. Since these bills are still being debated by lawmakers, a call to a local representative's office could help ensure students in some states can use the bathroom of their choosing.

4. Raise kids that don't bully

Even though there are reports of teachers bullying transgender students, most physical and verbal harassment of transgender students comes from other students. In fact, 77 percent of students who were "out" as transgender reported negative experiences at school, such as verbal and physical harassment, according to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. So the best way to help transgender students might just be raising kids who respect everyone, regardless of differences.