When a Valedictorian Spoke of His Queer Identity, the Principal Cut Off His Speech The principal also took away the valedictorian’s prepared remarks, so the student recited the speech from memory. Mr. Dershem’s father reposted a clip of his son’s speech on YouTube.

Eighteen-year-old Evan Young was supposed to be the 2015 class valedictorian of Twin Peaks Charter Academy High School in Longmont, Colorado. But his principal prevented him from giving his graduation speech after learning he would announce he is gay. Instead, two weeks later, Young got to give his

Seth Owen, an 18-year-old gay teen from Jacksonville, Florida and the co-valedictorian of his high school class, was thrown out of his home earlier this year by his parents after refusing to abide by their religion. A former teacher launched a GoFundMe campaign for Owen’s tuition which has already r