Here in the city, the Department of Education established transgender bathroom guidelines in 2014, requiring schools to accommodate students' gender identity. But as NY1's Rocco Vertuccio found, some transgender students still feel isolated, despite the guidelines.

Before it became a heated national debate, the city public school system already supported transgender bathroom equality and put guidelines in place in 2014.

City schools cannot require a student to use a bathroom or locker room that conflicts with their gender identity despite the gender on their birth certificate.

Under those guidelines if a transgender student requests more privacy, schools must provide it. That can include use of a private area and a separate changing schedule.

"Sometimes a transgender student says, 'I'm not ready to use that bathroom yet. Is it OK if I use a nurse's bathroom or the principal's bathroom?' said Jared Fox, the city education department's LGBT Community Liaison. "So schools make accommodations."

The Harvey Milk High School in Greenwich Village is a public school that serves students who have been bullied, many of whom are LGBT or transgender.

The school's bathrooms are gender neutral. Other public schools in the city allow transgender students to use a single-stall restroom when they request one.

But those who work with transgender students say despite the city policy, transgender students at some schools still suffer.

"We hear stories of young people who haven't been able to succeed in school because they're transgender," said Lillian Rivera of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. "They have been isolated, they've been targeted."

Almost all New Yorkers that NY1 spoke with support transgender bathroom equality.

"It won't make me uncomfortable, but I would like learn to accept them," said one man. "They want to be like that, so let's treat them like what they are."

"What's on the birth certificate is on the birth certificate," one New Yorker said. "Honestly, it's an abomination."

"I have conversations with my son," another said. "I'm comfortable explaining to him these issues and how he has to be tolerant of every individual."

Those who work with transgender students say some school administrators in the city still don't have the expertise to create a safe environment for transgender students. To address that, the city is rolling out training for principals and assistant principals.