'I Don't Go To The Bathroom Because It Is Segregated': Edinburgh Transgender Teen Speaks Out
A brave teenager from Edinburgh is telling Forth News about his decision to come out as transgender.
The Scottish LGBT community are in the spotlight in this week; and for once they are hoping it will be in a positive light.
The Police in Edinburgh have told Forth News that they are doing everything they can to stop them being a target of hate crime.
Shiona McCallum went to meet Jasper, a 16 year old who bravely came out as transgender, changed his name from Emily, cut his hair and started wearing baggy clothes earlier in the year.
He said that at Drummond Community High School he has been supported by the staff, but he still gets stressed when it comes to going to the toilet and the teachers enforce segregation rules.
He said; "It forces me, more than anything else, to acknowledge that my body is just wrong. Wrong from what I want, and wrong from what I want to perceive it as."
"Trans people have a huge issue with going to the bathroom because of how it's segregated. It can be quite difficult so most people avoid the issue by noto going to the bathroom - I don't go to the bathroom. It's really bad. Luckily I don't do P.E. anymore so I don't have to deal with the changing rooms but I know someone at my school who does and they say it's horrendous."
Police Scotland have now appointed a specific Liaison Officer to help stamp out hate crime and say the issue is a top priority for the force.