Queens Can Be Kings And Queens, And Transgendered Students Can Be Queens, Too

Two lovely stories of hope, from both ends of the Eastern Seaboard.

Up there in Maine, at Sanford High School, senior Christian Nelsen was crowned prom Queen while his boyfriend Caleb Jett was named King.

It was a first for the school in southern Maine, but it passed without a hitch.
It seems that the couple won on the basis of a strong write-in vote after they'd decided to run to break down the stereotypes of Prom King and Queen and being a gay student in high school today.

Christian Nelsen said, “When I went for it, I was like this could change who wins for the rest of the year. It doesn't matter if it's a guy or a girl who wins prom queen. Anyone can win, and on that same notion any type of person could win.”

As it should be. Anyone.Can.Win.

The local news reported that some Sanford residents were not at all pleased with the idea that two boys were the prom King and Queen, but none of those asshats chose to  comment on camera. Proves what my Mama used to say, If you haven't got anything nice to say, then don't say anything.

Congratulations Christian and Caleb. Brava!

And a Brava also goes to Andrew Viveros, a transgendered high school student in South Florida, who was elected prom Queen at her prom.

After years of being taunted and bullied, with people calling her names and scrawling nasty things on her locker, Andrew--who was born male, but has publicly presented herself as female for the last two years--took the crown: “They called my name and I was in total shock."

Andrew, also known as Andii, plans to someday change her name to Andrea, and wanted to run for prom queen in order to show other transgender teens “it gets better”, and it does, as Andii beat out fourteen other hopefuls.

From bullied to tiara. It does get better.

Brava Andii!

Christian and Caleb's story

Andii's story

Some Teachers Shouldn't

Down in Texas, where things are big, and sometimes stupid, a high school teacher has been put on administrative leave after an incident where he allegedly said, to a 9th grade Muslim girl, "I bet that you're grieving" following the death of Osama bin Laden. he also, allegedly, said, before that, "I heard about your uncle's death."

A teacher. Someone who should know better.

The girl's name is not being released--and neither is that of the teacher--but what sickens me most, other than the blatant sickness of the comments--are the fact that the teacher allegedly showed no remorse for his comments. 

After making his remarks, the girl began to cry, and when he asked why she was crying, another student said it was because of what he'd said to her. the teacher allegedly shrugged and smirked and went on with the class.

The Clear Creek Independent School District released this statement:

In the Clear Creek Independent School District, we believe diversity strengthens our community and seek opportunities to celebrate the different cultures within our schools and neighborhoods. The sentiments allegedly shared by this teacher are not reflective of the staff at Clear Brook High School or anyone within the Clear Creek Independent School District.

In accordance with CCISD policy, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation. The student did the right thing and immediately notified an adult regarding the teachers' comments. The principal at Clear Brook High School notified the child's parents and has been in communication with the family.

I think the statement could have been a bit more succinct; something along the lines of: The teacher has been fired.

via TalkingPointsMemo

In Missouri Queer Is Offensive

Out there in Missouri, Jesse Irey is a bisexual Liberty High School student who says that he was simply showing his support for equal rights for all when it was demanded of him to either change his offensive shirt or leave school.

His offensive shirt?
Fags Rule. Um, no, that wasn't it.
Straight People Suck. Not it either.

His shirt said: "Queer + Str8 Equal".
How.Offensive.

So, now Jesse and the American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] are fighting back against what they say is illegal censorship by the school. 

Jesse Irey says students wear all kinds of shirts with all kinds of sayings on them. In fact, one such shirt says that Liberty High School is a "Hate Free Zone." So, then what's so offensive about Jesse Irey's shirt?

A Liberty High teacher and an assistant principal say the word "queer" is offensive.
Queer. But Jesse Irey says his use of the word 'queer'on the shirt was an attempt to "take the word back so it's not an offensive slur." Irey is also upset that Liberty High School, that hate free zone, allowed other students to wear anti-gay shirts after the school's Gay-Straight Alliance wore shirts that read 'Gay-Fine by Me.' Those shirts said, "Straight--the only thing fine by me."

So, anti-gay is okay.
And pro-gay is okay.
But, queer. Bad.

That's the message they're sending.

source