My name is Mya. I’m 14 years old, I have two sisters and I am the youngest. I live in Tucson with my parents and one of my sisters with lots more family nearby. I’m in eighth grade, and next year I’ll be a freshman in high school. I love Tucson because it’s where I’m from, where my family is, and where my community is. As a teenager, I want to spend my time hanging out with my friends, practicing a new cheer routine, or planning my quinceañera.
But, because I’m transgender, I also have to worry about politicians in Phoenix creating problems where none exist.
When I was 8, and in second grade, my mom and I were already talking about me socially transitioning: using a new name, wearing new clothing and living life as the girl I know myself to be. The plan was for me to do all that in third grade, when I would be starting at a new school.
But no one should have to wait to be themself, so I went straight to the principal’s office to tell her, “I’m Mya. That’s who I am.”
Since then, the vast majority of my classmates, teachers and school administrators have supported me. My mom once asked my principal, “What happens if other parents have questions?” The principal said, “You don’t worry about that,” and that the principal would handle any questions. It’s important for people to be able to ask questions, but that principal allowed my family and me to focus on the reason I’m in school: to receive a good education.
I wish Republican lawmakers could walk in my shoes, so they could see that they are creating a problem that doesn’t exist.
I wish Republican lawmakers could walk in my shoes, so they could see that they are creating a problem that doesn’t exist.
I’ve been using the girl’s restroom since second grade, and no one cares. It’s ridiculous that I even have to say that, but Republican politicians seem so concerned about where people like me go to pee. All I’m doing is the exact same thing as everyone else, which is why my classmates don’t care: It’s not their problem, and so they don’t judge or treat me differently than any other girl.
These Republicans were elected to help people in our state, so why aren’t they focusing on issues that actually matter? The data shows that LGBTQ students who experience discrimination — the same types of discrimination these politicians are trying to write into law — are more likely to miss school, have lower GPAs and are less likely to graduate. Our elected officials should care about those issues, and about helping the LGBTQ community, not targeting us.
There are a few bills that I’m really worried about. Senate Bill 1166 would also make it harder for teachers to use the correct names and pronouns for their students, and could even force them to use the wrong ones. Senate Bill 1182 would make me less safe by forcing me into the boys restroom. And Senate Bill 1628 would rewrite Arizona law to erase transgender people entirely.
I’ve met with Arizona elected officials to explain how these bills would harm me, and countless other Arizonans like me. I hope those elected officials listen, because we need more kindness and less hate.
Most people who have actually met a transgender person know that we just want to live and let live. I hope we can all agree that it’s wrong to single out and attack anyone — including transgender people — just for living their lives and being who they are.
I hope Arizona’s elected officials will vote to reject SB1166, SB1182, SB1628 and any other bills targeting the trans community.
Mya is an eighth grade student who lives in Tucson with her family. Her last name is known to the Arizona Mirror, but is not being published at the request of her family.
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