rockin'robin
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In a state known for its conservative values, Blake Brockington broke down many barriers when he made history on Friday as the first transgender high school student in North Carolina to be crowned Homecoming King.
Blake, 17, is a senior at East Meck High in Charlotte, and received the honor as well as a standing ovation from his peers during the halftime show at a basketball game.
He describe the moment as a "typical dream come true," and a chance for him to be typical.
"I hope that this opens eyes of people that do not accept individuals of the LGBT community," Blake tells the Good News blog. "Just because someone is different, it doesn't make them any less human… it is one of the few situations in which I am treated like a normal teenage boy."
Growing up, Blake, who was born female but identifies as male, didn't realize he was a girl until he was 6 years old, and began taking the steps to change his identity when he was in the eighth grade. His birth father didn't accept him as he was, and for various reasons, Blake was put into the foster care system. He went through two foster families before finding the perfect fit with his current parent, Donald Smith.
"My new foster father is the first man to have ever treated me like a son and nothing less," Blake says.
Though rejection has become a fact of life for the teen, Blake says he's learned not to reject himself, to be proud of what he's accomplished, and to share his story with others. Considering he lives in a state that has been lacking in its acceptance of the LGBT community, the journey continues daily. Furthermore, Blake, who is black, faces difficulty in the African-American community as well, which has struggled with homophobia.
"I deal with a lot of ignorance on a daily basis," he explains. "Just a few years ago, with a former principal, one of the students at my school was transitioning and had what seemed like no support from administration. Another high school in my county didn't allow a transgender female to go to prom in a dress… there are schools in my district where transgender students are dropping out because they couldn't take the torment anymore."
Nevertheless, Blake believes his own feat is a step toward recognition and acceptance. The young hero, who plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the fall, was nominated for the honor by his peers, and beat 12 other contenders to earn the crown. As part of the election, he received fundraising dollars for Student Congress' chosen charity, Mothering Across Continents, which funds the building of schools in the Sudan.
"I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from my friends, members of the LGBT community and their allies from all over, the local community, my high school's alumni, and teachers at my school," he notes. "I got lucky enough to touch enough hearts, to have the support that has helped me through my transition, especially the hard parts. I think that this may have started the progress. I hope that this has started the progress."
Teenager Makes History in NC Just for Being Himself
Blake, 17, is a senior at East Meck High in Charlotte, and received the honor as well as a standing ovation from his peers during the halftime show at a basketball game.
He describe the moment as a "typical dream come true," and a chance for him to be typical.
"I hope that this opens eyes of people that do not accept individuals of the LGBT community," Blake tells the Good News blog. "Just because someone is different, it doesn't make them any less human… it is one of the few situations in which I am treated like a normal teenage boy."
Growing up, Blake, who was born female but identifies as male, didn't realize he was a girl until he was 6 years old, and began taking the steps to change his identity when he was in the eighth grade. His birth father didn't accept him as he was, and for various reasons, Blake was put into the foster care system. He went through two foster families before finding the perfect fit with his current parent, Donald Smith.
"My new foster father is the first man to have ever treated me like a son and nothing less," Blake says.
Though rejection has become a fact of life for the teen, Blake says he's learned not to reject himself, to be proud of what he's accomplished, and to share his story with others. Considering he lives in a state that has been lacking in its acceptance of the LGBT community, the journey continues daily. Furthermore, Blake, who is black, faces difficulty in the African-American community as well, which has struggled with homophobia.
"I deal with a lot of ignorance on a daily basis," he explains. "Just a few years ago, with a former principal, one of the students at my school was transitioning and had what seemed like no support from administration. Another high school in my county didn't allow a transgender female to go to prom in a dress… there are schools in my district where transgender students are dropping out because they couldn't take the torment anymore."
Nevertheless, Blake believes his own feat is a step toward recognition and acceptance. The young hero, who plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the fall, was nominated for the honor by his peers, and beat 12 other contenders to earn the crown. As part of the election, he received fundraising dollars for Student Congress' chosen charity, Mothering Across Continents, which funds the building of schools in the Sudan.
"I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from my friends, members of the LGBT community and their allies from all over, the local community, my high school's alumni, and teachers at my school," he notes. "I got lucky enough to touch enough hearts, to have the support that has helped me through my transition, especially the hard parts. I think that this may have started the progress. I hope that this has started the progress."
Teenager Makes History in NC Just for Being Himself
for sharing that, RR and yeah, for sure, Frisky!