I loved my teaching job. But as a trans man in Texas, quitting was the only way to get my dignity back

"My decision to stay stealth was affected by the political climate. Texas has been trying to pass a bathroom ban for 10 years, and in December, they finally implemented the rule. It applies to restrooms and changing rooms in public buildings, schools and universities. Because of how I look, I can get away with going into the correct bathroom. But if someone were to report me to the district, it would cost my school $25,000 for the first offense, and then $125,000 every subsequent time."

"This law only applies to multi-occupancy, single-sex bathrooms the type of boys' and girls' rooms you see in a public school like mine. Single-stall bathrooms, which are sometimes marked as gender-neutral, are still OK. Proponents of the bill say it's not a violation of our civil rights because of that loophole. That did not stop some people from removing gender-neutral bathrooms and putting in gendered bathrooms this happened at the University of Texas at Austin."

A music teacher in north Texas concealed a transgender identity from students while administrators knew because hormone treatment had not yet begun. Texas implemented a bathroom ban applying to multi-occupancy, single-sex restrooms and changing rooms in public buildings, schools, and universities. The law levies fines of $25,000 for a first offense and $125,000 for subsequent offenses if someone reports a person using the “wrong” bathroom. Single-stall or gender-neutral-marked bathrooms remain allowed, but some institutions removed them and installed gendered bathrooms. The teacher avoided campus bathrooms, suffered health consequences, and ultimately left the job amid financial and safety concerns for the school and self.

Read at www.theguardian.com