When the Obama administration announced a sweeping decree about transgender students in public school bathrooms, it sparked debate on both sides of the issue.
In the small country town of Krum, 17-year old Max Cater smiled.
"It's not scary," Cater said. "Just me, trying to use the restroom and then leaving, like any other person."
Cater is a transgender person. He was born Annabelle and came out as Max three years ago.
"I kind of always had this feeling that I just didn't fit in with girls," he said. "I felt like I was born in the wrong body."
Cater is a junior who used to attend Denton High School.
He left four months ago to be home-schooled.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"I was scared even to use the restroom. I couldn't figure out which one to use," Cater explained. "So, it felt very awkward that I was still counted as female no matter how hard I tried to be male."
Cater's mother, Kasie, applauded the public school restroom policy order.
"Finally," she said with a sigh. "They're just kids. They're the same kids that they always have been inside and always were."
Thursday night, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick told NBC 5 the president's move was a "slap in the face" to teachers and parents. Patrick said it would change the public school system as we know it and vowed to fight the Obama Administration on the issue.
Cater said he hopes the more people get to know transgender people, the more comfortable they'll be.
"They're still human, still people" said Cater. "And they deserve equal rights just as much as you do."
