A former Manchester High School student hopes to change the attitude of her hometown when it comes to a transgender student using the girls bathroom.

At a February board meeting, Manchester Community Schools leaders and community members discussed whether a transgender student should be able to use the public restroom.

The district states the school's non-discrimination policy allows the student to use the girls bathroom, while some parents have voiced concerns about safety.

Haley Dutko, a Western Michigan University student, started a Change.org petition to encourage acceptance.

"Everyone deserves to be treated equally. Discrimination needs to be a thing of the past," she wrote on the petition. "We want acceptance. We want to make a difference for this girl and for others around the world."

More than 1,000 people have signed the petition as of Tuesday, Feb. 24.

On the petition, Dutko drew comparisons to black people being prohibited from using a "white-only" bathroom.

She also explained sex is biological characteristics while gender is a term to describe behavior, roles and expectations in society.

"The lack of support that many of the adults and residents in this community is astonishing to me," she wrote.

Lindsay Knake is the K-12 education reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com. Find all Washtenaw County K-12 education stories on MLive.com.