Editor's note: This story has been edited to reflect that James Angilly's birth certificate includes the date on which he changed his name and gender identity. An earlier version incorrectly stated that his birthdate had been changed.

James Gabriel Angilly is 15 years old and a rising sophomore at Cranston High School East.

In addition to providing the day on which he was born, his birth certificate lists an enormously important date in his life – Feb. 14, 2019.

That is the day on which he transitioned from identifying as female to male, choosing the name James to replace Ashlyin.

James says he began to realize that he felt “different” – and that something was amiss – when he was 8 years old.

“I didn’t like my body. I realized how I was growing up and didn’t like it,” he said.

There were difficult moments during the journey that followed. James said he first experienced bullying while attending Woodridge Elementary School.

“I think the reason I got bullied a lot in elementary school by the boys was because I didn’t want to just be friends with them, I wanted to be them,” he said.

One good friend from elementary school, Riley McDermott, has stuck by James’ side through it all.

“We still talk all the time, and I know she always has my back,” he said. “Riley said she knew that something wasn’t right, and I would cry to her every day at Woodridge.”

James said that for the most part, his two years at Bain Middle School were comfortable.

“Bain was a good experience,” he said. “No one knew me or my history. I loved my friends from there. I was in the Junior Honor Society, Project Respect, Junior Council, and was voted Ideal Bain Knight.”

Still, James knew that he was different from his peers. But he was not yet ready to express that feeling.

“I really just never did anything about it,” he said. “I tried to hide the thoughts of becoming male. I really knew I wasn’t going to come out.”

Then, when James entered Cranston East as a freshman in the fall of 2018, he was truly starting to identify as male. He came out as transgender three weeks into freshman year.

He wanted to change his hairstyle from long to short. The goal was to look more masculine.

“I cut it in August – new school, new year, new me, new person. It went so far as to shave my pixie cut to look more masculine,” he said. “I remember wearing a flannel shirt and baggy jeans, and felt so comfortable. The look was masculine and I knew this was what I wanted to look like.”

James first came out as transgender to his father, Ed Angilly. Ed acknowledges that “in the beginning we thought it was just an attention getting move” – but his perspective has grown immensely as James has gone through the process of transitioning.

“I’m very proud of him for coming out, and fighting the battles he faces on a regular basis and surviving them,” Ed said. “I’ve learned a lot from him, lots of new terminology. It’s not a whole lot different that a child with special needs. Things are going to be different, not every child is the same. I’m hoping that he can learn to accept that the world may not be as accepting, but he shouldn’t let other people’s beliefs ruin his life. This is the happiest I’ve seen him in years.”

James emailed his teachers, asking them to call him James and use the masculine pronouns of him, he and his. All were on board, and his friends were all supportive.

There have been more difficult moments and challenges. James said his older brother Logan, 19, has had a difficult time adjusting. He has also experienced bullying via social media and in school.

“My goal was to educate and inform, but [some other students] took the bully route instead … Some of the stuff was too awkward to show my dad, because it was uncomfortable,” he said.

James and his father both said they have spoken with school administrators and made the case for stricter enforcement of anti-bullying policies, as well as increased awareness around the issue of bullying.

James is a trans boy who also likes boys, so he is also gay. He started taking testosterone in November 2018. He stopped menstruating in December. He only wore a chest binder for a month. His facial hair started to grow and his voice changed. He has body hair, his muscles have grown and his body fat has readjusted.

James offered some pragmatic advice for anyone who is dealing with finding his or her true self.

“Know there is a whole community who has been there, that they are not alone,” he said. “It’s not good to be quiet. You need to stand up for yourself, respect yourself.”

James particularly pointed to Youth Pride Rhode Island, an organization in Providence that provides support, education and advocacy for LGBTQ youth.

“It was a place to vent and have someone who understands where they are coming from,” he said.