It’s hard to miss the debate around the rights of transgender Americans in the current political climate. Schools across the nation have made news about taking stands about which bathrooms transitioning students are allowed to use and which sports teams they’re allowed to play on.

And as if that weren’t enough, trans people of all ages battle to be understood or accepted by family members, co-workers, and healthcare providers. Still, some who are on the outside struggle to empathize, and legislators continue to pass anti-trans legislation.

Schuyler Bailar, the first openly trans athlete to compete on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team, offers the larger population a way to understand the community he knows so well.

Bailar is also a trans rights activist and author of He/She/They: How We Talk about Gender and Why it Matters. He discusses why pronouns are important, why being trans is not a choice, and what “biological sex” means.