Kids should, in fact, have increasing rights to privacy and the ability to determine their future as they age.

Telling children that they, and they alone, are the authority on certain decisions about themselves and their body is, in fact, protecting children.

One of my friends used to say kids should prepare to be 18 in fractions. Like, a 12-year-old should have 12/18 the autonomy and the knowledge they’ll need to be 18. It’s obviously very rough, but the idea that kids should gain these things slowly rather than abruptly seems right.

As an AL teacher, I am constantly navigating these laws that seek to force me to out my students. My friend sponsors the GSA and I am the second adult in the room for her, and we have to start every meeting this year disclosing state law and school policies on compliance to make sure kids are safe.