It is with both shock and pride that I respond to the news that my birthplace of Fresno, California has achieved a milestone in transgender rights. Last month, Fresno Unified School District courageously altered district policy to allow transgender Fresno High student Cinthia/Cynthia Covarrubias to don a tux and run for prom king.
While Cinthia lost, he paved the way for another local transgender student, Johnny "Crystal" Vera, to run for Prom Queen at Fresno's Roosevelt High.
When I first heard the story, I imagined Crystal as a social outcast. But as it turns out, not only is she — her gender pronoun of choice — hardly a misfit, she is one of Roosevelt High's most popular and beloved. In addition to being a former class vice president and one of the most celebrated cheerleaders at her school, Crystal is a former homecoming prince. With many supporters cheering her on, she mounted a campaign that garnered local news coverage.
Then, last Saturday, like many other high schools girls across America, Crystal was crowned her high school's Prom Queen.
But unlike any others, Crystal followed the trailblazing footsteps of Jackie Robinson and Sally Ride into the history book of firsts. Fresno student Johnny "Crystal" Vera is the first openly transgender student in the United States of America to ever be selected Prom Queen.
I shamefully assumed her victory was due, at best, to an ironic vote propelled by something similar to the Sanjaya movement. But local news and blogs confirm that her crowning was a genuine, unconditional affirmation of her likable and inspirational qualities. The crying and cheering that followed the reading of her name speaks for itself.
Article comments
1 - ely
im glad dat jonny won in the prom
2 - Matt
The original story seems like an anomaly; mainly because the lady in question is a very brave and unique person and has earned respect and admiration by force of character. What I take from the story is that, in order for GLBT rights to make progress it is going to take many more charismatic people such as her. Whether it happens in Fresno or somewhere slightly more moral (backward, whatever), I think it is a trend that will continue. Unfortunately along the way some of these people are going to suffer horribly, as they have in the past.