There’s definitely progress being made when we come across not one, but two heartwarming videos about transgender youth in the same day. Earlier today we posted this video of a transgender kid performing a killer rap about acceptance he penned with his mother, who just has to be an amazing parent. Now comes this video interview from GLAAD’s All Access series. Host Claire Pires chats with 16-year-old Sage Lovell of Marietta, Georgia, the first openly transgender teen in the state’s history to be elected to homecoming court. Sage’s mom Maureen is not only super-supportive but her dad Joseph actually escorted her onto the football field during homecoming. In the video chat Joseph remembers how supportive the crowd was and how the stands erupted in applause when the two strode out onto the field. Maureen notes that while she was initially concerned about Sage’s safety, she developed the fortitude to tackle any possible opposition from watching her daughter. “With her being very strong about who she wanted to be and let her own self out,” she said. “That gave me strength to face whatever we needed to face.”
Watch the conversation below.
hkgjefe1
I lived in Atlanta for work for 5 years. I remember my real estate agent advising me to not buy a house in homophobic Marietta (where Sage lives). I’m so happy to hear Sage’s story and to know that this area once labeled as homophobic is now so welcoming of diversity. The times are changing – and it’s due in large part to the courage of young people like her. Congrats to Sage, she really is making a difference – well beyond her own community. And while Sage expresses concern about life after high school, I suspect she’ll be just fine with with her healthy attitude.
Tackle
With the risk of appearing cynical, I’m tying to be rational and practical. This is anything but welcoming of diversity I believe. It’s too bad that this cannot be seen for what it really is. A prank/joke. Those students are having fun with this,kinda like those kids in the movie “Carrie.”
But I’m sure Sage, and her parents do not want to believe this, because they are so desperate for Sage to be accepted and liked. (Understandable). But one should not allow desperation blind you of the reality of what’s really going on. This is not to say that Sage has NO supporters at her HS. But I would not look at her being elected to homecoming court as some great acceptance on the part of those High schoolers…
crowebobby
How can you weigh in on the “reality” of a situation you weren’t part of and haven’t seen? I’m sure there’s a good chance you’re right, but you seem a little too certain for me; a herd can sometimes have a very unexpected reaction.
Tackle
@crowebobby: It’s called having an opinion, which is what Queerty is here for, and allows US to do…
kevininbuffalo
I think Sage looks a bit like Emma Watson.Congratulations and all the best to her.
Jacob23
“Now comes this video interview from GLAAD’s All Access series.”
This is what happens when a gay organization like GLAAD gets transjacked. It ceases to perform it’s original function, which was to combat defamatory representations of gays and lesbians in the media. So GLAAD no longer bothers to comprehensively monitor major media for defamatory programs. It no longer has a hotline where someone can report defamatory media. Even when GLAAD is made aware of a potential issue, such as the finale of “Two and a Half Men” (which treated gay marriage as a joke) or the upcoming movie about “ex-gay” Michael Glatze, it does nothing to investigate or react. It no longer cares.
What it does nowadays is talk endlessly about heterosexual transsexuals and crossdressers. That is it’s new mission, although it will not tell that to its LGB donors. Nevertheless, it’s revenue is dropping dramatically and it is on the road to extinction. When it dies, trans activists/locusts will move on to the next LGB organization to destroy.
crowebobby
@Tackle: It was my opinion that you didn’t state it as an opinion. You didn’t say “I think they’re probably making fun of her.”) You stated “They WERE making fun of her” and “that was the REALITY of what was going on” as if you had been there, seen their reaction, and could state it as an established fact. (I was assuming that was the case till I had a moment to think about it; that’s what prompted me to respond.) I think you may be reading the situation correctly and have no problem with your stating your opinion; I just felt you were presenting it so forcefully it came across as if you were stating facts. I could be wrong; I often am.