WATCH: Gay Valedictorian Gives The Coming-Out Speech His School Banned

gay valedictorian graduation speech

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — A high school valedictorian who was barred from giving a graduation speech that revealed he is gay received another chance to deliver his message.

Evan Young delivered the speech Sunday at an awards ceremony held by the gay rights group Out Boulder in Colorado city. The Daily Camera newspaper reports that the crowd cheered during the speech, which ended with the 18-year-old asking people to hug someone different from themselves.

Congressman Jared Polis was among those who commended Young at the event.

The teen says he agreed to make some changes to the speech requested by the principal of Twin Peaks Charter Academy High School but refused to remove the revelation of his sexuality.

He says he submitted a revised version but the school in Longmont contends he didn’t.

Watch the whole speech here, via Democracy Now:

___

Information from: Daily Camera, http://www.dailycamera.com/

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

40
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for jw1 jw1 says:

    Twin Peaks Charter Academy High School

    Whether it was David Lynch’s production-- or the contemporary breastaurant name?
    You might have thought that sexuality was implied-- if not welcomed.

    jw1

  2. Avatar for gr gr says:

    I suspect the principal yielded to parental pressure.
    Most simply will not stand up to parents,especially if they see no downside.

  3. Actually, previous stories have made it clear that the parents:

    a) didn’t know their son was gay (though they weren’t surprised),
    b) didn’t know he planned to come out with his speech,
    c) found out when the principal outed their son to them without forewarning the son, and
    d) were supportive of their son when they found out.

    So this was all on the principal, not the parents.

  4. Avatar for jw1 jw1 says:

    The speech was given at a different venue than the school.

    jw1

  5. Modify that speech mister, or you’re on Double Secret Probation! Double Secret!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

34 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for jw1 Avatar for nickdanger Avatar for meri Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for orthostice Avatar for jinx_tpm Avatar for mrcomments Avatar for Lacuna-Synecdoche Avatar for joelopines Avatar for gr Avatar for rockgolf Avatar for martinstett Avatar for jaybeeraybee Avatar for nelsonrobison Avatar for mitchw7959 Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for dwolf Avatar for canary02 Avatar for ajclementine

Continue Discussion