Communities must recognize those on the margins of gender and address the problems of gender- and sexuality-based discrimination. The people on the margins of gender include but not limited to homosexuals, transgenders, asexuals, and intersexed. The government policies will not immediately or effectively reduce the stigma they receive from society. This stigma is very dangerous because the hate-related violence and dysphoria that develops in those of this marginalized group. Lives could be saved if communities addressed the unique needs of this significant minority. Schools must give youths of this group a safe place to be educated and form social connections, which are crucial for their emotional and mental health. This must happen in order for society to become healthier. This must happen because Americans do not deny anyone equality. This must happen because these are human beings who matter.

The community must recognize the diversity of those on the margins of gender. The diversity of homosexuals, for instances, includes the degree of homosexuality and the type of homosexuality.[1] Scientists of gender studies have actually advocated for the term “homosexualities” instead of the singular in order to accurately emphasize diversity.[1] Because of this diversity that appears in varying magnitudes in each group, gender and sexuality becomes very personal and identity-oriented. The recognition of these differences allows for the addressing of the specific needs of each individual who identifies themselves somewhere on the margin of gender. Gregg Colschen, who has been “principal of The Woodlands High School since July of 2002”[2] said in an interview November 10^th, 2009, that those “outside the mainstream” feel this disconnect between them and the society that misunderstands them. Also important to realize that some on the margins of gender need recognition and civil equality like homosexuals, while others need parents to be aware of them and better medical treatment like transgenders and intersexed (note that needs are not restricted to anyone group). The diversity of needs also make this a family and community issue.

Though schools are effective in bringing about awareness of other kinds of lifestyles and are integral to the community, the problems of gender-and-sexuality-based discrimination must be address by organizations and grassroots activists. Principal Colschen explained that schools social issues are not the main purpose of schools and that this type of discrimination is not specifically address in school policy. He also mentioned that some legislation of what should be taught in schools is difficult to put into the circumlunar because discrepancy of which class the subject should be taught. Significantly, he mentions, that personal issues like for instance religious ideology are personal matters over which schools do not have jurisdiction.

Because schools teach to policy and mostly for the sake of education and critical thinking, the responsibility of facilitating social change falls to those directly affected by its problems, in other words, every individual member of society. Because of the dignity of every human being, society must allow greater openness of what people where and do now than we did forty years ago. This is what Principal Colschen called the “liberalization” of society. The change in openness will fall upon every person, and even if they do not admit it, they are being changed. Always in the civil rights movement, be it in the last century or before it even was called civil rights, grassroots protesters have been crucial. The Ella Baker’s participatory democracy emphasizes the significance and necessity of activism done on the local level in a radically democratic fashion.[3]

The religious ideology that does not accept those on the margins of gender and discriminates them is incompatible with democracy and civil rights. Every parent has the chance of giving birth to a transgender child, and to use unhealthy, misconceived ideology like “God created her or him in a special way, and God chose her or his gender” can kill this child. Not providing proper care for children with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) can result in self-mutilations, depression, and possibly suicide.[4] Though often God is often invoked to prove the opposition to accepting the inner identity of those on the margins of gender, the secular document, the constitution, upholds the human dignity and inalienable rights

[4] From “A Boy’s Life” Atlantic Magazine by Hanna Rosin in the November 2008 issue

of every human being. Other aspects of religion that was incompatible with civil rights like the ideology that blacks are inferior to white have changed and had to change; the same must be said of ideology that makes homosexuals shameful and hell bound. Churches must become more accepting of those on the margins of gender because churches have the responsibility as the foundations of many communities to be significant promoters of human well-being.

Communities must change by recognizing and accepting those on the margins of gender in order to achieve the ideals of democracy and make a healthier society. The diversity of those on the margins of gender proves that gender and sexuality is very personal and individualized. The government influence, specifically in schools, is not the major facilitator of civil rights. Because of this, the responsibility of social change in communities falls upon the citizens. For the sake of their lives, those marginalized because of their gender or sexuality must be accepted.