Prom Queen Lives Up To The Name

International News, By Christian Taylor, 29th May, 2009

California may have had their gay marriage ban upheld this week, but that hasn’t stopped gay school student Sergio Garcia from being voted in as Prom Queen of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.

The LA Times report that 18 year old Garcia decided to run for the queen crown as “a bit of a stunt and challenge”. He didn’t think the school would permit it, but in the end the campaign ignited debate about gender roles at the school.

Garcia accepted the title wearing “a charcoal-gray tuxedo and black bow tie”. In a speech given prior to the announcement he told the student body, “I will be wearing a suit, but don’t be fooled, deep down inside, I am a queen!”

Students who voted for him told the LA Times that the victory showed how open minded their school was, and that it was an opportunity for them to show their support for the gay community.

One student who was against the outcome said that she believed some students just wanted to see the King have to dance with another guy on prom night.

The school, located in West Hollywood, is at the forefront of gay rights in schools, and has a Gay-Straight Alliance student group on campus, and has had a support network for LGBT youth since 1984. It’s a stark contrast to Lebanon High School in Indiana, who was taken to court by a lesbian student earlier this year because they would not let her wear a tuxedo to the prom.

Your Thoughts

GenesisInVain

said ages ago

i heart this!

Asherbella

said ages ago

This is an individual victory, or advancement; not for the whole gay community because not all gay teenage guys will automatically identify as a 'queen'. It's a lovely message, a great gesture of good will & acceptance; but, as a gay man myself I want to be accepted for my sexuality, not the gay gimmick or stereotype of sending to the world the misheld belief that all gay teenagers & men wear the 'queen' tag so readily.

meezon04

said ages ago

yay!!~!

jordan

said ages ago

The point of this is that he is accepted for his sexuality. It started out as a challenge to the idea that the best "couple" had to be a straight combination, what this is saying is that the best "couple" can be gay or straight. The wonderful thing is that he was actually voted in by a popularity contest. It is a great thing. Congratulations.

Asherbella

said ages ago

The point of this is that he is accepted for his sexuality. It started out as a challenge to the idea that the best "couple" had to be a straight combination, what this is saying is that the best "couple" can be gay or straight. The wonderful thing is that he was actually voted in by a popularity contest. It is a great thing. Congratulations. Yes: he won a popularity contest based upon the premise that gay males are effeminate and just love to be called 'queen'? The outcome is positive & and this thread has a 'feel good' vibe to it; I'm not detracting from that fact - I just get the feeling that the underpinning belief for this honourary title & support possibly comes from the long-held perception that being gay (for young men) is about wanting to be a female? To be gay is about orientation in terms of romantic/ sexual intimacy with the same sex, not affinity/identity with the opposite gender... This teenagers' sexuality could have been celebrated or recognised meaningfully without the spectacle of the sex role stereotype of the 'gay boy being girly' thing....why couldn't the gay boy be crowned 'king' or 'prince' or 'duke' or 'earl'? Why 'queen'? Just a thought. Tell me to shut up if you'd like...:p

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