School authorities took heed to pressing transgender issues when 200 students in Missouri staged a walk out during school hours to protest the use of the girls' washroom by a transgender student who is yet to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
Students at the Hillsboro High School in Missouri walked out of class during lessons and stayed outside school for two hours to protest against school senior Lila Perry, 17, being granted permission to use the girls' bathroom.
According to the Daily Mail, Perry began identifying herself as a transgender student at the beginning of the year and started using the girls' facilities in the school in order to change for gym class which made girls in the school uncomfortable.
The student who wears heels, mini-skirts, makeup and a wig to school previously used the unisex facilities which were meant for the teaching staff but since the beginning of the school term has decided that she should be allowed to use the girls' bathroom.
A student at the school, Sophie Beel told Fox News she felt uncomfortable because Perry was yet to go through a reassignment surgery and that wearing a dress and a wig did not mean she was transgender. And that physically she was still a male.
In defence of the claims, Perry has said, "I'm not going to expose myself. I'm not a pervert. I'm a transgender woman. I'm a girl."
During the demonstration, Perry was kept behind locked doors in an office for fear that girls would become violent towards her. Parents of students also took part in the two hour school shutdown saying female students had rights and should not be expected to share a bathroom with a boy.
Transgender issues have come into the spotlight in recent times owing to the very public transition of high profile celebrities including Caitlyn Jenner who was formerly known as Bruce Jenner.
Perry has since stayed away from gym class, but still plans to use the girls' bathroom, according the news channel.