Trans salutatorian's powerful graduation speech puts Mississippi school's mistreatment on display

A transmasculine salutatorian at a Mississippi high school received applause at graduation but was called “young lady,” misgendered, and deadnamed by administrators who also handed him his diploma. He described how others judged him based on appearance and labels rather than his achievements, hardships, and personality. A video of his commencement address posted online drew hundreds of comments, including supportive messages and hateful remarks referencing religion, chromosomes, and mental illness. LGBTQ+ community members and allies reported the disrespect during the ceremony. The school previously congratulated him on social media using his deadname and faced allegations that his senior portrait was edited to appear more feminine by removing his mustache.

"Despite my own self-acceptance, others judged me without understanding me. I became my label, and it felt as if my achievements, hardships, personality, all became irrelevant for the sole fact that I present myself differently. I went to his graduation last night, and they did refer to him as 'she,' 'young lady,' and deadnamed him publicly, wrote Deana Edwards, who was one of several LGBTQ+ community members and allies in attendance."

"Video of his address, posted on Facebook by a Biloxi mom who attended Saturday's ceremony, drew hundreds of comments, many of them supportive amid a chorus of hateful remarks and derogatory references to the Bible, chromosomes, and mental illness. As The Advocate reported, D'Iberville High School congratulated Hole on Facebook last week with a photo captioned, "Pride. Tradition. Excellence. Congratulations to our DHS Salutatorian," before identifying him by his deadname."

"To add insult to injury, those commenting on the photo alleged the school edited Hole's senior portrait before posting it online. "They photoshopped his mustache off to make him look more 'feminine,'" commenter Micheala Boffman wrote. Hole's portrait, as shared by the school, visibly contrasts with a selfie taken that same day, showing him with a mustache and"

Read at Advocate.com