In 2015, exactly 27,715 respondents from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. military bases overseas completed the U.S. Transgender Survey <http://www.ustranssurvey.org/>. 723 identified as Virginians.

Data from the Executive Report on Experiences in Schools:

More than three-quarters (77%) of those who were out or perceived as transgender at some point between Kindergarten and Grade 12 (K–12) experienced some form of mistreatment, such as being verbally harassed, prohibited from dressing according to their gender identity, disciplined more harshly, or physically or sexually assaulted because people thought they were transgender.

• Fifty-four percent (54%) of those who were out or perceived as transgender in K–12 were verbally harassed, nearly one-quarter (24%) were physically attacked, and 13% were sexually assaulted in K–12 because of being transgender.
• Seventeen percent (17%) faced such severe mistreatment as a transgender person that they left a K–12 school.
• Nearly one-quarter (24%) of people who were out or perceived as transgender in college or vocational school were verbally, physically, or sexually harassed.

Let lived experiences rise above the opinions of others so that we make work together to end this history of trauma. This decision will protect the rights of all children to exist, thrive, and grow into healthy and happy contributing members of society.