Being a transgender guy is challenging in itself, but then add the recent attention of the media; it is pure anxiety. I am specifically referring to the debate over allowing transgender people to use the restroom in which we identify with. I downright hate that this has been brought into the light of social media and the news.

Now let me explain why I hate this particular topic of the transgender community being allowed to use the restroom we identify with versus the restroom that correlates with the gender we were biologically assigned. When this controversial debate came into light a lot of people, not all, spoke out; many opinions were based around the safety of the world's children. "Perverts will take advantage of being allowed to use any restroom they please". I understand being concerned about your child's safety and well-being. Many people concluded that the transgender community should continue to use the restroom that correlates with the gender they were biologically assigned. For someone like me, though, that doesn't work either.

I was biologically born a woman, but I identify as a man. I have every appearance of a man, and most people mistake me for a guy quite frequently. With this debate on many people's minds I now have to be concerned and cautions about using any public restroom. I look like a guy and I identify as a guy, but have not started hormones yet due to financial set backs, and I still have a female anatomy. According to the folks against allowing someone like me to use the restroom correlating with the gender I identify with I should use the women's' restroom. The issue with that is that I don't look like I belong in a women's restroom. What happens when I walk into a public restroom and a father sees me walk in while he is waiting for his little girl to finish up? He will most likely assume that I am a guy taking advantage of being allowed to use the restroom that correlates with the gender I identify with.

Some people might say that this only applies to transgender women, but my response to that is this; this country is all about equality and you cannot allow one transgender person to have certain rights while denying the next. Now, not only is this discrimination based on identity, but it's sexism.

Before this restroom controversy was brought to the light of the media, I still had to worry about someone saying something to me for using the women's restroom, but now I am constantly looking over my shoulder because I am concerned about my safety. I am waiting for someone to attempt to physically assault me. According to the Declaration of Independence I have the right to pursue happiness. That is a constitutional right according to our founding fathers.

As far as being concerned about your child's safety; honestly, if a pedophile is going to try and take advantage of this restroom privilege, it's not because they just now got the idea. A pedophile has already made the decision to break the law, harm a child, and act grotesquely. If they want to break the law, do you really think this restroom debate is going to sway their decision one way or another? Probably not. To act in that manner is already in their nature, and they're going to do whatever it takes to satisfy their need regardless of the law. Identifying as transgender isn't a choice any more than identifying as a heterosexual. This is just how I'm programmed. I don't care to disturb anyone's life, throw the way I live my life in your face, or harm your child. I just want to live my life genuinely as who I am. All I want is to live my life peacefully and happily just like everyone else.

I'll leave you with this final thought. I don't care how you identify, what race, religion, ethnicity, the social class you identify with, or if you're disabled in any way; put yourself into a category. Label yourself. Now imagine majority of the world is everything except what you are. Do you already feel like you've been placed into a category? Do most people refer to your "category" negatively? Now imagine they're all talking about what rights you deserve because your differences might impact their lives somehow? Perfect strangers that don't know you get to decide how you're allowed to live your life. Do you feel ostracized yet? Now imagine living with this angst and anxiety every single day of your life. It doesn't sound peaceful or happy, does it?

We're all different. We're all unique. Maybe it's time we stop paying such close attention to how we're all so different, and instead start to pay attention to how we can take those differences to make this world a better place. Humanity will destroy itself one hateful act at a time, but can restore itself and rebirth one act of kindness and love at a time as well.