San Diego County High School Crowns First Trans Homecoming Queen

Homecoming queen Karl Cruz was crowned to massive applause and cheering at last Friday's football game.

Tracy E. Gilchrist

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.

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Tracy E. Gilchrist

September 20 2018 2:33 PM EST

May 31 2023 8:12 PM EST

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Sweetwater High School in National City, Calif., became a leader in the district when students voted to crown their first-ever transgender homecoming queen at last Friday's football game, according to KGTV.

The winner, Karl Cruz, 18, said she was overwhelmed and tearful at the outpouring of cheers and applause from those in attendance when she was named homecoming queen.

"I was completely shocked. Everyone started cheering for me, I didn't really expect that from anyone," Cruz said. "After the fireworks, I just started crying my eyes out."

The teen thanked friends, family, and supporters in a moving social media post.

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The principal of the San Diego County-based high school, Maribel Gavin, told the TV station that she was proud of the student body for recognizing Cruz.

"I was extremely proud. I can't say I was surprised," Gavin said. "Every single student should be accepted for who they are. They're all wonderful human beings that are here to learn."

Cruz said that while the student body voted her in as homecoming queen, she has some detractors. But she also has a message for them.

"Every opinion is valid, but some opinions can be really harsh, so I would just say to keep it to yourself," she said. "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say it at all."