From legal marriage to adoption rights, our generation has seen some of the most dramatic changes concerning the personal liberties of the LGBTQ community.

But, as the government adapts to accommodate for all people—regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation—local institutions, like schools, need to as well.

Last month, the Michigan Board of Education proposed a policy that extends protection and supports LGBTQ and gender-fluid students by creating a more comfortable school environment for them.

Gender fluidity is a gender identity which varies over time. Someone who is gender fluid can identify as male, female or any other non-binary gender at any time. This policy would provide services to those students and their families to help them overcome obstacles within school and in their personal lives, such as bullying, harassment or mental health problems.

The policy also requires schools to adjust conditions to accommodate for a student’s gender identity. This includes allowing the student to choose which gender they identify with on school documents, what name they go by, which bathroom and locker room they use and which sports teams they play on.

However, certain aspects of this bill have sparked controversy. Specifically, the debate over how the student can request gender or name changes and a concern over bathroom and locker room accommodations.

Some do not agree that LGBTQ students should be able to request gender or name changes without the consent of a parent or professional. However, to create a more accepting society, it is vital that we allow these students to express themselves as they choose to, not as their guardians want them to.

To do this, they need to be able to validate how they want others to address them, and school members should be ready to assist them in that process.

This may include letting them change the name they want to be called in class and on team rosters and noting which gender they identify with. Since LGBTQ students express themselves as individuals, they should be able to make their gender orientation official as an individual as well—without needing the consent of their parents.

The policy would require teachers to respect the needs of the LGBTQ student. And parents, while perhaps not agreeing with their child’s requests, should respect them as well.

Although the proposed policy does not require parental consent on these changes, the types of support programs it calls for will help break down the barriers that stand between parents and students in their homes. Having those services available upon the request of the student is much more accessible than if the student had to find them on their own.

Another critical part of adjusting for gender-fluid students involves letting them choose which bathroom they feel comfortable in. While this does promote equality among their peers, the comfort of their fellow classmates should also be considered. Even if the law suddenly changes to allow gender-fluid students to use other bathrooms, that does not mean everyone will be accepting or welcoming, especially when it comes to a place as private as bathrooms.

The policy change could also stir up backlash from students. LGBTQ students could be harassed or bullied, and if it occurs in the bathrooms, administration has no way to fully monitor that.

For these reasons, the formation of a gender-neutral bathroom should be considered as an alternative. This would be a bathroom that is not assigned a gender and is open to all. Converting a couple of the bathrooms into gender neutral ones could be an easy fix.

It is important that all students can express themselves accurately. Our school system should advocate that by supporting this policy. With minor adjustments to the bathrooms and other points that can be modified in a case-by-case basis, all students will feel that they have been recognized equally.