There are whys to transgender activism, but beyond the whys, there are the whats of transgender activism: the goals. Here are seven goals of trans activism, with some explanation as to why these are trans activism goals.

For my transgender child and thousands like him, the simple act of relieving themselves in a public restroom at their school is a source of stress, confusion, violence, endless meetings and even lawsuits, just because they identify with a gender that differs from their biology.

Last week, after five years of struggle, pain, hard work and hope, a Superior Court judge ruled that the Orono school system did not violate the Maine Human Rights Act when it prohibited my daughter Nicole from using the restroom that matches her gender identity.

Earlier this week the East Aurora School District passed a policy that would provide key supports to trans youth. Soon thereafter the Illinois Family Institute urged people to complain about the policy, and today the East Aurora school district might very well rescind that protective policy.

For the past few years we have had an increasing number of elementary schools contact us with reports that their teachers and school staff were "freaking out." The cause for alarm? The new enrollment of a transgender child or the gender transition of an already-enrolled student.

The reality is that while bullying, school environments, and related outcomes have a long way to go for lesbian, gay, and bisexual students, the distance is even further for transgender students. We need to be having a discussion about that.