Video: Teenager comes out to hundreds of classmates at award ceremony
A gay teenager came out in front of a crowd of hundreds of classmates at his high school, as well as teachers and parents, in a video which has appearaed online.
Jacob Rudolph takes to the stage to accept a senior class award for being Class Actor, but goes on to come out as an “LGBT teen” during his acceptance speech delivered to over three hundred classmates.
In the video, Rudolph takes the stage to laughter and applause, and starts by saying: “So I would like to thank everyone for awarding me Class Actor. Sure I’ve been in a few plays and musicals.
“More importantly I’ve been acting every day of my life. You see, I’ve been acting as someone I’m not. When most of you see me every day, you see me acting the part of straight Jacob, when I’m in fact an LGBT teen, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender”.
He continues: “I’m like the millions of other LGBT teens who have had to act every day to avoid verbal harassment and physical violence, and I’m not going to do it any more.
“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 love and friendship.
“So take me, leave me, move me out of the way, because I am what I am, and that’s how I’m going to act from now on.”
Rudolph is then met by loud and energetic applause as he leaves the stage.
Queerty reports that Jacob Rudolph’s dad recorded the video, and wrote in the introduction line: “His acceptance speech took more guts to do than anything I’ve ever attempted in my life.”
He also wrote asking for bullying and discrimination to end so that other people wouldn’t have to “act as someone they’re not.”
