A group that supports rainbow young people is applauding a Christchurch all-boys' school for its support of a student who is transitioning gender.

READ MORE: CHRIST'S COLLEGE WELCOMES FIRST NON-MALE STUDENT

Executive Director of Qtopia, Alice Anderson, says Christ's College is being very understanding.

She told Kerre McIvor such a situation can be challenging for some.

"Gender is a social construct: This is an idea that we came up with to better understand one another," she said.

"It fits that perhaps our understanding of each other has to broaden as we grow greater development"

Anderson says our institutions and organisations have to broaden their understanding along with us, to become more inclusive.

LISTEN ABOVE AS ALICE ANDERSON TALKS TO KERRE MCIVOR