A week after posting a diary about a bunch of backwards bullies organizing an "Anti-Gay" day in a PA high school, I come across
this story out of Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas, NV. It's stories like this that confirm my faith that some kids (IMO most kids) really do get it.
While paired-off couples might be worrying about whether their corsage will clash with their outfit, gay student Anthony Martinez was bummed he’d have to attend [his prom] stag—until his best friend, Jacob Lescenski, who is straight, stepped up to the plate.
Following in the fashion of public prom-posals, Lescenski created a banner to ask his pal to the big dance.
“You’re hella gay. I’m hella str8, but you’re like my brother, so be my d8?” reads the banner.
I can barely find the words to describe just how great it is to know that there are kids like Mr. Lescenski -- who clearly is not concerned about people questioning his sexual orientation -- who are willing to step up and stand up for a friend. It's also encouraging that there are folks like Mr. Martinez who can still hold their heads up high and be who they are despite the bullying they often have to endure. And one must also give kudos to the school community, who very clearly support the two best friends.
The prom-posal has caused many to cheer for the pair on social media, but no one is happier about the May 2 dance than Martinez himself.
“He’s my best friend, and a real man, given the fact he has the guts to fulfill my gay student council dream of always helping out planning dances and never getting asked,” Martinez wrote on his Tumblr account. “I couldn’t ask for a better person in my life. Thank you, Jacob.”
When you have kids organizing "Anti-Gay" days, and adults bitching about "religious liberty" and having to bake a cake for a Gay Couple, it's easy to become a bit jaded at the never ending flow of stupid coming from the right towards the LGBT community. I have to give major props for Mr. Lescenski and Mr. Martinez for having this kind of courage. Frankly, now that we're heading into prom season, as the media will no doubt show us endless displays of happy straight couples enjoying this rite of passage, I'd like to see more stories like this. This is truly uplifting.
Special H/T to Samantha Cowan and TakePart for this story. Thanks.