I’m a trans teen in Central Bucks. Here, it doesn’t ‘get better.’

I’m 16, and just started 11th grade at Central Bucks High School East, part of the Central Bucks school district. I’m a daughter, a sister, a friend, an artist, an actor — a typical teen. And I happen to be trans.

I’ve spent my whole life in this district. I live with both my parents, I have two amazing sisters and an adorable dog, Scotch, all of whom inspire me every day to be my most authentic self. I feel lucky to have this support network, because I know that not every trans student does.

Now, discriminatory policies are being implemented in our schools, taking books off of shelves and further preventing students like me from receiving the support we need to thrive.

Over the summer months, the district passed a contentious library policy against books with “sexualized content” — which is often code for books that tackle issues of race or racism, or feature LGBTQ characters or plot lines. When I heard about the new books policy, which was approved in July, I wasn’t shocked or surprised. My family and I knew this was coming. We saw it happen around the country, even in a neighboring school district. My mom spoke about the dangers of book censorship in front of the House Oversight Committee back in April.

» READ MORE: Central Bucks has approved a library policy targeting ‘sexualized content’ in books. Here’s what we know.

My family and I have been fighting for years to get the schools in Central Bucks to create a more accepting environment for marginalized kids, specifically educating around gender identity. Instead, we’ve seen the opposite happening — the district has become an increasingly unwelcoming and unsafe place for students like me. This is disappointing and scary, to say the least.

Books showing LGBTQ representation are crucial. Something as simple as a book can provide support, education, and visibility for all students.

When I was in fifth grade, my parents reached out to my teacher as to how best to support me when I was first starting to communicate with my parents about my feelings surrounding my identity. She had suggested that we read a book called Melissa, which used to be called George, about a trans kid in fourth grade. That was a really great moment for my family; we felt supported and understood by my teacher and school.

I’m not sure if the same teacher — or any teacher in my district — would feel comfortable doing the same thing now. Teachers are taking books they think might be questioned out of their classroom libraries. They are afraid.

Before I socially transitioned, students would make fun of me because I talked and acted like a girl. During my transition, I heard all sorts of mean and harmful things. I got harassed and threatened online, and almost never felt safe, except for when I was with the supportive teachers and friends I had.

Lately, LGBTQ students — including those who aren’t openly so — have been telling me they’ve experienced more incidents like these. And those who haven’t come out yet are saying they feel more afraid to be open about their identity than before.

I don’t blame them. In the last year, we watched Central Bucks remove Pride flags from classrooms, and a middle-school principal told teachers to use the pronouns in the school database for their awards and certificates, even if it didn’t match a student’s identity. These are just some of the many things that Central Bucks has done that contribute to a harmful and discriminatory culture and environment in schools. It’s dangerous to the mental health of students who aren’t receiving the support they need.

We all feel less safe. And we’re worried about what this school year will look like for us.

It’s a scary time for students and teachers, some of whom are afraid to be public allies and support marginalized students. They may hang fewer signs in their classrooms, or not get certain books, just to avoid any trouble.

It’s a scary time for students and teachers.

I wish I could change the culture at Central Bucks. I wish my district taught kids to be open-minded and accepting of people who aren’t like them, and created visibility for all kinds of people associated with different races, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities. The school’s number-one priority should be helping kids feel safe to be who they are, so that it can be a welcoming and productive place to learn.

That’s not the atmosphere we have now. But I’ll keep doing my best to be who I am. Even though I will be leaving this district in two years when I graduate, I will continue to speak for the kids who are too afraid to speak for themselves.

And we will all keep fighting so that one day, it will get better.

Lily Freeman is an 11th grader at Central Bucks High School East.