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Transgender Homecoming Queen Was 'Shocked' to Make California History
“After the fireworks, I just started crying my eyes out."
Sweetwater Union High School in Chula Vista, California has elected their district's first transgender homecoming queen.
18-year-old Karl Cruz says she never dreamed she'd win the student body vote for this year's homecoming queen, so she was completely overwhelmed to hear her name called on the football field in front of all of her peers.
"I was completely shocked," she told ABC 10. "Everyone started cheering for me, I didn’t really expect that from anyone."
“After the fireworks, I just started crying my eyes out."
While Cruz was surprised, her principal, Maribel Gavid, said that she wasn't, and it just shows the values of the students at her high school.
"I was extremely proud. I can't say I was surprised. Every single student should be accepted for who they are," she said. "They are all wonderful human beings who are here to learn."
Cruz couldn't be more thrilled to have made her high school's history.
"From being nominated, to being part of top 10 to being SUHI’s first Transgender Homecoming Queen has been such a crazy fun experience and I’m forever thankful for everyone who supported me throughout this journey," Cruz wrote on Facebook. "I wanna give special thanks to my family who supported me, to my friends who supported me all the way, they really put up with all my mental breakdowns, and they also helped me create my performance. They were just there for me thru thick and thin. I love you guys with all my heart."
Congratulations Karl!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
