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Gay Prom Queen
What do you think?
LOS ANGELES -- The election of an openly gay teen as the prom queen at Fairfax High School has not sat well with members of Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church.
They gathered at Fairfax High Friday to protest the choice of Sergio Garcia, 18, as the school's prom queen.
The church has drawn criticism for showing up at soldiers' funerals, and for their talk about "God's wrath" for America's tolerance of homosexuality.
Counter-protesters showed up at the school as well. They labeled the church group bigots.
"The student body voted for Sergio Garcia to be their prom queen, and that should stand because we live in a democracy," one counter-protester told KTLA.
Garcia was crowned queen at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in May.
"I feel invincible," Garcia said wearing his rhinestone studded tiara.
A few days earlier, he gave a speech that touched a nerve with students: "At one time, prom may have been a big popularity contest where the best-looking guy or girl were crowned king and queen. Things have changed and it's no longer just about who has the most friends or who wears the coolest clothes," Garcia told a gymnasium full of seniors.
"I'm not your typical prom queen candidate. There's more to me than meets the eye."
Garcia assured the crowd he wouldn't wear a dress on prom night.
"I will be wearing a suit," he said. "But don't be fooled, deep down I am a queen."
Garcia said he saw fliers advertising the prom and the election, and they didn't specify that the queen must be a girl. He thought the role would suit him better than prom king.
"I don't wish to be a girl," he told KTLA Jaime Chambers.. "I just wish to be myself. Being prom queen has changed my life and inspired the lives of other students, who are like me."
Senior class president Vanessa Lo said she and many other students were initially against the idea but were won over by Garcia's speech and became convinced he wasn't just an attention-seeking clown.
"It just goes to show how open-minded our class is," Lo said. Other students weren't as happy, and suggested many voted for Garcia just to see the spectacle of two boys dancing together at the prom.
"I'm not really happy about that," said 17-year-old Juan Espinoza. "He should've run for prom king."
The school, which sits at the end of the rows of chic shops on Melrose Avenue and was once attended by members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has long been a haven for students who would be considered outcasts at many schools.
They gathered at Fairfax High Friday to protest the choice of Sergio Garcia, 18, as the school's prom queen.
The church has drawn criticism for showing up at soldiers' funerals, and for their talk about "God's wrath" for America's tolerance of homosexuality.
Counter-protesters showed up at the school as well. They labeled the church group bigots.
"The student body voted for Sergio Garcia to be their prom queen, and that should stand because we live in a democracy," one counter-protester told KTLA.
Garcia was crowned queen at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in May.
"I feel invincible," Garcia said wearing his rhinestone studded tiara.
A few days earlier, he gave a speech that touched a nerve with students: "At one time, prom may have been a big popularity contest where the best-looking guy or girl were crowned king and queen. Things have changed and it's no longer just about who has the most friends or who wears the coolest clothes," Garcia told a gymnasium full of seniors.
"I'm not your typical prom queen candidate. There's more to me than meets the eye."
Garcia assured the crowd he wouldn't wear a dress on prom night.
"I will be wearing a suit," he said. "But don't be fooled, deep down I am a queen."
Garcia said he saw fliers advertising the prom and the election, and they didn't specify that the queen must be a girl. He thought the role would suit him better than prom king.
"I don't wish to be a girl," he told KTLA Jaime Chambers.. "I just wish to be myself. Being prom queen has changed my life and inspired the lives of other students, who are like me."
Senior class president Vanessa Lo said she and many other students were initially against the idea but were won over by Garcia's speech and became convinced he wasn't just an attention-seeking clown.
"It just goes to show how open-minded our class is," Lo said. Other students weren't as happy, and suggested many voted for Garcia just to see the spectacle of two boys dancing together at the prom.
"I'm not really happy about that," said 17-year-old Juan Espinoza. "He should've run for prom king."
The school, which sits at the end of the rows of chic shops on Melrose Avenue and was once attended by members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has long been a haven for students who would be considered outcasts at many schools.
I guess its ok to go use the women restroom as well right?
V3gasguy @ 5:45 PM PDT, Jul 3, 2009
Being does not change the fact you are a man! He can have his rights to be gay. but there is boundaries you don't cross. This is one of them.
V3gasguy @ 5:41 PM PDT, Jul 3, 2009
Being gay does not make you a woman. Gay is a sexual preference what about the guy who was voted prom king? How do you think he feels? Many have already said they voted so they could see a spectacle! He can be gay and have his rights but you don't impose your will on someone else.
solanthel @ 5:37 PM PDT, Jul 3, 2009
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