Though the world has needed multiple reminders this week, the current year here on Earth most certainly is 2015. Despite the fact that areas like Kentucky refuse to acknowledge it, equality in the United States took a major leap forward earlier this year with the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage (see also: the day the word "marriage" finally included everyone). In the months since, major companies like Target have joined the call for less gender-specific labeling on its children's items. Caitlyn Jenner's mainstream documentation of the trans experience via E!'s I Am Cait has given the public conversation surrounding the need for acceptance an inspiring boost. In short, all eyes are on the continuation of social progress like never before.
Sadly, not everyone is along for the ride. As shown in the clip above, trans high school student Lila Perry was subjected to what's being described as "pure and simple bigotry" in the form of a staged walk-out involving roughly 150 students at Hillsboro High School in Missouri. "There’s a lot of ignorance," Perry tells KMOV. "They are claiming that they’re uncomfortable. I don’t believe for a second that they are."
Perry wants to be able to use the girls' locker room at Hillsboro High, just as any girl would. Though Perry agrees that school officials have largely been "accommodating, understanding, and compliant with Title IX," Perry refused their offer of a private gender-neutral restroom on principle. "I wasn’t hurting anyone and I didn’t want to feel segregated out," says Perry. "I didn’t want to be in the gender neutral bathroom. I am girl, I shouldn’t be pushed off to another bathroom."
Do better, Hillsboro High students.
