A high school senior's coming out
speech at Princeton High School in New Jersey was greeted with a
standing ovation.
In accepting an award for “Class
Actor” in front of 300 of his fellow classmates, Jacob announced
that he's LGBT.
“I would like to thank everyone for
voting me Class Actor,” Jacob
said. “Sure, I've been in a few plays and musicals, but more
importantly I've been acting every single day of my life.”
“You see, I've been acting as someone
I'm not. Most of you see me acting every day, you see me acting the
part of “straight Jacob,” but I'm actually an LGBT teen –
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender.”
“Unlike millions of other LGBT teens
who have had to act every day to avoid verbal harassment, physical
violence I'm not going to do it anymore.”
“It's time to end the hate in our
society and accept the people for who they are, regardless of their
sex, race, orientation or whatever else may be holding back
friendship.”
“So take me, leave me, or move me out
of the way. Because I am what I am, and that's how I'm going to act
from now on.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
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