Out In Schools Gives Us Hope: Tea & Michelle’s Story

Content warning: The post discusses religious trauma and institutional discrimination against trans youth.

My name is Tea, I use she/they pronouns, and I’m here with my mom Michelle (she/her). We’re so excited to introduce ourselves to you today, on the International Day of Pink: a day to speak out against discrimination and bullying directed at 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. 

As longtime supporters, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of Out In Schools’ Spring Fundraising Campaign 2025! A generous donor has pledged to match your donations for up to $12,500 until the end of April, doubling your impact. The work that Out In Schools does—making classrooms safer for queer and trans youth—is deeply personal to us. Our goal is to raise $25,000 this spring to support this program.

This is the story of how Out In Schools changed our lives.

We are a mixed-race family from Ladner, BC. I was assigned male at birth, but as a kid, I always preferred dolls to action figures. I was obsessed with fantasy and mythical creatures in general. I especially loved Monster High dolls—so chic, ghoulish, and unique—and skipping around in my mermaid tails and fairy wings! 

At some point, I began attending a Catholic elementary school, where we had to wear gendered uniforms. It made me realize just how uncomfortable I was being perceived as a boy. I would spend recesses in the back of the field, sitting alone and daydreaming about walking through school with long, flowing hair reaching all the way down to my uniform skirt.

Transgender youth like me deserve to feel safe and seen in our schools. Any donation you make today will be doubled to support Out In Schools in providing knowledge, safety, and connection to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth across BC. 

One summer, our family decided to try something out: I would go to summer camps with my new name and use she/her pronouns. I wore my hair in dreadlocks down to my shoulders, I dressed however I wanted, and, in this new environment, no one questioned any of it. For the first time in my life, I actually felt comfortable in my body—it was like finally coming home after a long trip.

That fall, our family expressed to my school that I would be attending class as a girl. The school responded with a letter from their lawyer. They demanded that I get assessed by religious practitioners and Catholic doctors. I wasn’t allowed to wear the girls’ uniform. One of the school’s pastors—an adult I trusted and our family was close to—sat me down and told me that my transition was against God’s wishes.

I spent a lot of that year crying and heartbroken. I was starting to believe that my dream—to be known as who I truly am—would never happen. 

After months of jumping through hoops, we decided enough was enough. I left the school, and our family filed a human rights complaint against them. 

Around that time, I saw my first Out In Schools presentation. I was amazed by the films the facilitators showed us: they were so different from all the sensationalized stories of despair that I’d gotten used to seeing in mainstream media. Instead, these films depicted queer youth as complex, willful humans. They captured both the nuances and wholeness of our identities. 

A wave of relief and recognition washed over me during that presentation. I was struck by the brilliance of a powerful story—a mirror that reflected all of my humanity back to me. Do you believe that 2SLGBTQIA+ kids deserve to see themselves represented authentically? Will you give $30, $50, or even $100 to help Out In Schools bring uplifting queer content to schools across BC?

I also got to know some of the amazing facilitators who work with Out In Schools. It’s incredible how their warmth opens up the classroom and invites everyone in. The energy they bring is so valuable, especially for trans and queer youth who don’t have access to information and support. When a youth makes a personal connection to an adult who shares their identities, it makes us feel like that could be us, too. A switch flips on: I can have a community, and I’m going to be okay!

Fostering hope and safety in the lives of trans and queer youth: this is what Out In Schools does best. It’s the only program of its kind in BC to create a non-judgmental space for all kids to ask questions and get insight into the big, beautiful world of gender and sexuality. This is the kind of work that creates cultural change, that builds connection and empathy across differences.

If you’re feeling anxious and scared, I am too—we don’t know what the federal election will bring. By the time we find out, it may already be too late. Trans and queer youth deserve to know that we’ll have their backs no matter who comes into power. This month, every donation you make will be matched dollar for dollar up to $12,500, so that 2SLGBTQIA+ youth can continue to access life-affirming resources provided by Out In Schools. 

The time to act is now. Join us to keep Out In Schools in schools!

In solidarity,
Tea (she/they) and Michelle (she/her)
Out In Schools supporters