Trans teen makes cheerleading squad after being kicked out by mother (VIDEO)
A high school is welcoming its first transgender cheerleader after she was rejected by her mother.
Anry Fuentes said that making the squad gave her a much needed boost after her mother kicked her out of the house after she came out as trans.
However, rather than be angry at her mother, she says she understands her actions.
“I’m not mad at her or hate her. I understand where she’s coming from. She was raised differently, and I can’t judge her for that,” she said.
Students and teachers at her high school even took up a collection to help pay for her $600 cheerleading uniform, she told a local news station.
While she says coming out to her classmates was difficult, Fuentes said it was easier than keeping her true identity hidden from those around her.
“It’s so much harder to hide than to come out and be yourself,” she told KTXL.
“Like, I found it really hard to, like, say the words you know… them actually coming out of my mouth, but once they’re out, they’re out. That’s it.”
Aaron Rosander – the school district superintendent – told the station that the school values its students.
“We’ve dealt with Anry like we’ve dealt with all students: we welcome them all, we support all the kids on their journey through life,” he said.
Ms Fuentes’ is the latest trans to teen to hit the headlines after coming out to her peers.
Last month, Landon Patterson was crowned homecoming queen after becoming the first openly trans student at her high school.
Following her victory speech, Patterson said: “I’ve dreamed about it since my freshman year, but I never knew it was possible for me.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of students staged a walk out from a high school over a trans girl’s request to use the girls’ locker rooms.
Watch a clip of Anry telling her story below.
