I want to tell you a story. Like all good stories it takes place in a land far away, but not a time long ago. The place is a school in a small town of no more than 1,000 people. The students are around 16 years old. We are in the the hallway between classes. The boys are dressed in baggy jeans and t-shirts. The girls are wearing trouser or skirts except in a few tragic cases where they are wearing skorts, and simple blouses.

This story is about that boy right there , no not the idiot wearing the “no fear” shirt, no that on right there. He’s got bleach blond hair with bright blue fringe that is spiked up. He is wearing a black leotard with a silver sequined tank top and black and blue marbles satin culottes and silver glitter combat boots. He pauses to touch up his pink glitter lipgloss and continues on head down as if trying to disappear despite his outfit. That’s how he doesn’t notice the football player who shoves him hard into the locker and he friend who kicks the boy in the stomach.

The boy picks up his books and continues swishing his way to class.

That night the boy will go home where he’ll take a shower crying lightly and letting the pain out wondering, do I be me, or do I be who they want me to be. Do I win or do I lose?

This boy hasn’t eaten lunch at school in two years because then he might have to go to the bathroom and that’s not possible at the school. The boys won’t let him into the boy’s bathroom, he obviously can’t use the girls bathroom, and the school won’t let him use the locked unisex bathroom that is teachers only. So he doesn’t eat breakfast or lunch so that he won’t have to use the bathroom.

He is the only out gay person in his school and town, they weren’t ready for him.

That was nearly 15 years ago.

As that boy grew up he was determined that he would put a stop the homophobia and transphobia that he dealt with in school. That boy grew up to be a strong, loud spoken ,and fabulous woman. One that spoke at schools and conferences and continues to work hard to end homophobia in schools. One that stands here speaking to you now.

I am saddened that homophobia and transphobia continue to plague our schools, continue to plague our students. The current government and society overall seems to think saying “it gets better” is enough, that it will cure everything. It won’t. The government needs to take a strong hand on homophobia and transphobia, including that which is perputrated by the schools and their officials.

Our children deserve the right to express themselves, to be themselves without being harassed. Deserve the right to go to school without fear of bullying and abuse.   Deserve to feel that they are able to stand out and say I am who I am, and not fear the teacher blaming them for the bullying.

We tell our children “to thine own self be true”, we need to support them when they follow that advice.

I’m standing here to demand that the government do something about homophobia and transphobia not only in our schools but within it’s own administration.

I am here and I am queer and I won’t shut up.

This has got to get better, the government has to wake up and help stop homophobia and transphobia in our schools. Our future depends on it. We can’t keep telling our youth that “it gets better” with out making any effort to make it better NOW!

I challenge the government to improve our schools NOW, to make things better NOW, to stop homophobia NOW, to stop transphobia NOW. For the better of the our youth, and our world.