A top-performing school pupil who was banned from giving a speech because he was being gay has had the last laugh at his narrow-minded school.
Evan Young was the top academic performer in his year – but when he told his headmistress he wanted to announce he was gay in his leaving speech, things turned sour.
The woman allegedly phoned the boy’s father and ‘outed’ him – then refused to allow him to speak.
But after outrage across the U.S., Evan was given the chance to deliver his speech in front of hundreds of people at a fundraiser for gay rights group Out Boulder.
He said, ‘You may have already suspected this, but I hope this does not change your opinion of me: I am gay.
‘I understand this might be offensive to some people, but it’s who I am. And whether you’ve always suspected this, or this is a total shock to you, now you know.
‘When I was writing this speech, I was endlessly debating with myself whether I should reveal this, on account of how divisive an issue this is and how gay people tend to be stereotyped, and I thought that, if I did, I should repeatedly apologize and beg you guys not to think any differently of me.
‘But then I realised: I don’t have to. I shouldn’t have to. If there’s one thing I learned at this school, it’s that we can still be friends even if we profoundly disagree with each other
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2015/06/03/pupil-gives-inspiring-speech-after-being-banned-from-speaking-for-being-gay-5229045/#ixzz3c5SQgX1w