"The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. … Fix society. Please.”

The quote above this was from a young girl that committed suicide in the year of 2014. Statistics from multiple organizations show that 41 percent suicide rate among transgender people is more than 25 times the rate of the general population. I am currently a student at Middle Tennessee State University, and I have witnessed several occasions where students show a lack of respect for the transgender community or people who support them. Misgendering someone dehumanizes their true identity. Students become victims every day weather we realize it or not.

According to an FBI Hate Crime Report, in 2014, the number of reported transgender murders was only at 12. However, this year broke the all-time record with the number of 19/22. That’s almost an 84% increase than the previous year. These numbers are just a portion of what has been reported. People are dying because of their identity and who they truly are. In the U.S. Constitution, it states, “All men are created equal.” If this is true, we should treat everyone fairly.

No more harming others with their own identity. No more violence against the idea of being transgender. No more disrespectful comments. With these statistics, I believe that the University should make an effort to educate students. I am proposing that the campus have a required class that has a specific unit dedicated on the LGBT community and respect.

A University should be a safe environment for anyone to get their education. With people being mistreated, it is not at all comforting or safe for the Trans community. Some professors refuse to use the preferred pronoun by the student’s request, how fair is that? Intentionally calling them something they are not can really take a toll on a person’s mental state. Students may not all get along or agree with each other’s opinions, but I think we all deserve respect.