Fred Phelps’ band of merry revelers is going to have a busy spring season. While they’re already planning to picket Constance McMillen’s graduation in Mississippi, now they’ve got to add New Jersey to their travel schedule, thanks to a male high school student’s cross-dressing prom plan. Surely they want to visit his school?
Derrek Lutz says it flat out: “Yea, I’m a cross dresser.” And he wanted to wear heels and a dress to his prom. “What makes me a woman is inside and it doesn’t really matter what’s on the outside. And everyone should really just be treated equally.” Initially, school administrators weren’t thrilled; they told him wearing a dress to Saturday’s event would violate school policy. Cue the Facebook group, some internal discussion, and things were “resolved.”
He posts to Facebook: “SO we won.. I got into prom with no problems… I also won PROM KING!… I’d really love to thank you all for supporting me. You all make me so proud to be alive and so proud to have so many people come together like this. Thank you all so so incredibly much and if you’d like to see tagged pics come to my facebook page.”
Oh, did we mention Lutz last month performed this Gaga routine for the entire school?
How about we take this to the next level?
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I’m in awe of this kid.
Geoff M
Big smile on my face watching this. I’m in awe of him as well! Times have really, really changed (in some ways).
Mike in Asheville, nee "in Brooklyn"
The kid has the biggest set of balls in America. Bravo for the courage; Brava for the dress!
Cam
Compare this kid to every single closeted Hollywood celeb. They seem awefully pathetic next to him.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
The pathetic haters in Missippi play prom hide and seek with a Gay student to prevent her from attending the prom. And here this kid is voted Prom King……….Maybe having the deep South ‘cede from the union wasn’t such a bad idea……….
chris
If he won prom king something tells me it was because his classmates did it as a goof to make fun of him.
Evan
That was just beautiful…and Chris, did you watch the video? Didn’t sound like there was anything insincere about Derrek’s classmates’ appreciation of him. Yeah, I know, that wasn’t the prom, but it was him on stage starring as Gaga…
walt
Or maybe his classmates really like him and aren’t bigoted.
AlwaysGay
What will Derrek do when he gets rejected by gay men? Gay men are not interested in men who cross dress, Derrek most likely isn’t either. I think he will be very angry or transition into a woman and try to date heterosexual males.
I’m very supportive of gay people however this situation I am totally against. Derrek, because I’ve seen it so many times, probably fantasizes about the football jocks not the effeminate glee club guys. Derrek is living within heterosexual conventions, that being attracted to men means you have to be feminine. You all heard it before, effeminate gay men say how effeminacy is the only way to be a gay man yet they always want masculine men which means they are “only” attracted to heterosexual males. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not Derrek is apart the heterosexual oppression of gay people. You can have whatever gender expression you want but lets realize effeminate gay men are not interested in other effeminate gay men otherwise the demographics of male models would be very different.
Jon (humor me it's monday)
@chris: I didn’t hear any boos in that assembly. He’s obviously a beloved classmate. Woot, Derrek!
Jon (humor me it's monday)
@AlwaysGay: If that assumption were correct, my life would have turned out very different. . . .Wow, I’m glad You’re wrong.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@AlwaysGay: Or he could just be a very well adjusted Gay Drag Queen. Who can separate the camp from reality and can go on to a happy, successful, productive life………’jus sayin………..
Evan
@AlwaysGay: No, you’re the one living within heterosexual conventions, that being a man means you have to be conventionally masculine. Get over your privileged masculine-male heteronormative-reinforcing self and realize that just because you don’t want to sleep with someone of your generally-preferred sex/gender doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with them. Or you’re no better than the straight guys who try to force women into their ideal of femininity.
Blake
If it was meant to mock him, they would have voted him Prom Queen not King.
Though there are many bigoted heterosexuals, you do occasionally come across decent ones.
They probably got the chance to know him and voted for him because he is a great guy.
And as far as the drag goes, it his life, not yours!
So do not force your conventions on him.
tallest
This kid is epic win!
Queerty is obsessed with Jarret Barrios. ZZZ. (John from England)
@AlwaysGay:
But he isn’t gay!!
He went with his girlfriend!
Who said he was GAY??!!
I’m confused.
English guys always LOVE dressing up as women.
Have I missed something here? Why is he gay?
Hilarious
I don’t see why Chris got thumbs down, his point was a valid one. Wasn’t that long ago I was still in high school and the school as a whole decided to pretend to like a mentally handicapped student while snickering behind his back. He happened to be my neighbor as well and he really thought they were his friends.
Kids in high school have always been cruel and I honestly don’t believe that’s suddenly changed. Buying this seems a little naive.
I will say I’m happy that he’s happy and I’m sure some of the good students are actually supporting him, but the majority of the school supporting him sounds like pure fantasy especially when it comes to the insecure male teenagers…lets get real here.
AlwaysGay
Did any of you gay men who condemn what I wrote earlier get turned on by these images of Derrek? I doubt it. There are no comments here or anywhere else by gay men which state Derrek is hot. The simple fact is Derrek’s style and gender expression do not turn on gay men and never will. You are setting him up to fail at dating. You can scream all you want about social conditioning of gay men’s arousal and you will always be wrong because it’s biological. I was attracted to masculine men since I was at least 4 years old which is as far back as I can remember.
delurker again
@AlwaysGay: What’s your point? I didn’t get turned on by him because he’s too young and he ain’t black. We all have different preferences.
In addition to being a racist (didn’t you complain that Mr. GAy Ireland or some such was ‘Arab’?) it appears you are transphobic.
Tallskin
I admire the kid’s courage
However, I think AlwaysGay has a point in what he says. I know I have never found drag/cross dressing remotely sexy. IN fact when I was a young gay coming onto the gay scene I found the whole camp/cross dressing thing utterly revolting – what i found attractive and wanted was the boys in my rowing team ie boys like me, sporty lads. I just couldn’t understand camp or cross dressing.
It was only much later I got to understand the whole revolutionary aspect of it in attacking macho male stereotyping, that dressing in drag was an attempt to subvert the whole masculine/feminine split that is culturally determined.
But that understanding doesn’t mean I find men in women’s clothing at all erotic. Far from it
David Ehrenstein
@Cam: You said it Cam!
I am SO PROUD of our younger generation!
AndrewW
Good for you Derrek. This act of courage helps change the cultural conversation. Young people need to stand up for equality, because when they do – people join them.
We need people to join us.
Queerty is obsessed with Jarret Barrios. ZZZ. (John from England)
@AlwaysGay:
How do you know he is G A Y?
jeffree
Most male crossdressers are str8.
There are in fact women out there who “get into” men in dresses. Pun is only half intentional. Lots of young women who identify as Q like the androgynous male vibe.
I don’t know if Derrek is str8, gay, bi or whatever, I do know that he is *brave* and that it took a tremendous dose of being fierce to try on a dress at the mall, find accessories, and wear it in public!
Plus I love his name:
First name DERREK, which is surferdude ,. pornstar *hot*:
Last name LUTZ which is down to earth, solid, humble slightly dorky!
Oh who was driving with him in that photo?
scott ny'er
well if the dude is gay. Kudos to him and his big brass ones. And he does seem to have lots of fans in the audience. So I hope his HS is supportive and that it’s a cool to school to go to.
OTOH, if his HS isn’t as supportive as this may seem (even tho he was voted Prom King), I hope he’s safe and more kudos to his big brass ones.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@jeffree:
Last name LUTZ which is down to earth, solid, humble slightly dorky! = Just add a “K”…………. :-p
Sammy
I grew up in the south and we had a crossdresser in high school. Never spoke to anyone, dressed more androgynous most of the time, but very effeminate. Then one Halloween, she came to school in full on drag and worked the hallways like they were runways. It was pretty awesome.
I only recall one time anyone vocally attacking her. She grabbed him by the neck, threw him against the wall and hissed at him. You could have heard a pin drop. No one fucked with her again.
Times have changed, but there have always been the brave ones willing to be who they are without regard to what people think.
ousslander
cute little drag show
Disgusted American
Thank You Progressive North for Excepting Diversity of ALL peoples!
Mark
Kids got some balls the size of Texas. And to think of all the adult closet case cowards in this country, relics of a miserable past. However, give credit where credit is due: What’s up with the screaming, accepting teens? Kids these days, actually starting to like them again…
BobP
A friend who I grew up with was a huge queen in high school. He was also the most popular person in high school. Class president every year. No one ever fucked with him, they adored him.
I think when there are problems with students sexuality or xual identification, the parents could be behind it.
A Good Friend of Derrek's
For those of you who are questioning whether him being voted prom king was a mockery or whether his classmates were sincere about it, I can verify that we were 100% sincere when we voted for him as our prom king. He is the single most popular student in our school. There were some groups at the prom who were angry when he won prom king, but nothing ever came of that but some booing when he was crowded (which was almost drowned out by the applause and screaming.)
Derrek is more than just a cross dresser with the will to fight. He was never doing this for himself, it was always to protect future students from having to go through all of the hardship he’s been through. He is one of the most caring people I have ever met in my life, and it’s a honor to know him.
AlwaysGay
@A Good Friend of Derrek’s: What type of guys is Derrek interested in?
We love our Lady Lutz
As one of Derrek’s fellow classmates, I can honestly say she is one of the kindest sweetest women I have ever met. She’s caring and considerate and always there for everyone. Her being voted Prom King was one of the greatest things to ever happen to our school. Hopefully it opened the eyes of many of the people who were against Derrek and it will help make life easier for future students who want to truly be themselves.
Derrek is a huge inspiration to everyone who knows her. She’s helped show our school that if you try there is no limitations to what you can do. There will probably never be another girl like her to pass through our halls but her memory will be there forever. Whoever made this page <3 you rock. Thank you for helping spread the word about New Jersey's bravest student.
We love our Lady Lutz
And for all the people questioning if he’s gay or not, he is gay. But who cares? He’s still the most amazing woman I’ve ever met <3
Shannon, a friend of Derreks
For the record, Derrek wanted to win prom QUEEN, not king. Those who voted for him were more than likely not mocking him, he is a very popular person in our school.
Yes, there was a lot of booing, mostly from the guys, especially those who wanted the crown. But that was to be expected, and did it faze Derrek? No, not at all. I was dancing with him to Gaga a few minutes later, actually.
And no, Danielle is not his girlfriend… she’s one of his best friends.
I’m proud of Derrek for standing up for him, and for the kids who helped to voice their opinions, myself included. Honestly, sometimes our school is ridiculously close-minded, including for this situation. For God’s sake, they made Derrek cry by denying him. I can honestly say that we talked at HOMECOMING, in OCTOBER, about him wearing a dress to prom. He deserved to win the fight and wear his dress. And I am definitely proud of him for walking the halls like he does each day, and I am especially proud of him for all of the courage that he has gained over the past year during high school. I can easily look back at the last two years to the quiet Derrek who dressed in guy clothes, and while I love him, I love this Derrek just as much, if not more, because she is finally being herself 🙂
The Real Derrek Thomas Lutz
You should all just ask me questions of your own… Yes I am gay, no my date was not my girlfriend, and not to brag but I am extremely popular at my school I won Prom King from it and was entered into Mr.Lcmr for it too. Whether it be from infamy or just likability everyone here knows who I am. I’m positive I won this because I deserved it… thank you everyone for your support !http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1301818382&ref=profile
The Real Derrek Thomas Lutz
Also Can I just say the majority of judges said I didn’t deserve to win the mr.LCMR pageant because it wasn’t Mrs.Lcmr which is fine by me I won the audience and took the stage, but I think it’s kind of funny that i essentially lost for being a cross dresser.
AlwaysGay
@The Real Derrek Thomas Lutz: What type of guys are you interested in? Will you stay a gay man or transition into a woman?
Cassandra
Among the many things I learned over the course of 20 years in SF is the fact that drag queens are generally only celibate by choice, not from lack of opportunity.
After any drag show, usually each of the performers had a flock of admirers courting her. One friend, a pretty serious gym bunny as well as consummate drag artiste’, told me that he got more romantic and sexual attention when he was in girl drag, then when he went out in boy drag. (lots of squats at the gym plus high heels = amazing legs and the perfect bubble-butt) And some of the most protective, jealous husbands I’ve ever met – were the partners of men who did drag.
And though Trans people often have a tough, tough road, many of those that I know/have known personally found their right someone in due time.
Derek – best of luck in everything you do, sincerely.
missanthrope
lol at the misogyny and femme-phobia displayed by AlwaysGay, dude get over your issues with femininity and stop projecting on to a teenage kid. Your obsessing over this is pretty creepy.
Boo
@AlwaysGay: Dude, you’re asking intrusive sexual questions of a teenager. Try to dial the creepiness down a notch, k?
MuscleBoy
@David Ehrenstein: Proud of what, of another drag queen in the making?
MuscleBoy
@The Real Derrek Thomas Lutz: Go get a real job, a life, and do something productive other than acting fierce and dressing up. No wonder so many straights view us a a joke. Seems that’s the only thing we know how to do, embarrass ourselves in drag.
MuscleBoy
@We love our Lady Lutz: A tranny in the making. Great future ahead.
alan brickman
A bit of a fame whore….
alan brickman
School is a community activity….not a launch pad for d-list reality stars….
Liz, friend of Derrek
Okay so i dont get what everyones deal is. Get over yourselves and understand that Derrek is a beautiful girl and everyone loves her. Okay? Thanks.
Jacky, friend of Derrek
And by the way, he never contacted any of the press, they tracked him down when other people told them about him. He is not doing this for attention or his 15 minutes of fame. And I honestly see no difference between being a drag queen or being any other kind of entertainer. So if you think a drag queen is wasting your life, you also think that every actor, actress, musician, and dancer to hit the stage is wasting their lives too.
Danielle
@Queerty is obsessed with Jarret Barrios. ZZZ. (John from England): This is Derrek’s date to prom…fyi: I’m his hag, not his girlfriend lol
Foxy
Derrek is not just a drag queen. You do not know him. He is an amazing person, and I find his strength inspiring. I knew him before and after he decided to identify himself as a woman, and it’s quite clear how much happier he is now that he’s finally being himself. It’s rare to find a person that is so true to their own beliefs. Not to mention, he’s one of the sweetest people I know and one of the best friends a person could ask for. You don’t know him, and you certainly don’t know what he’s been through. The arrogance of some people is disgusting, frankly. Stop insulting him when you don’t know who he is or what he’s about. The point is, Derrek is an amazing person, inside and out. I’m truly proud just to know him.
Cassandra
Foxy
I realize you are trying to help. All of the attributes you ascribed to Derrek – amazing, strong, true – to show that he was ‘not just a drag queen’
also usually apply to drag queens. And drag kings. Among others.
By doing drag, dressing as a woman, Derrek is a part of an amazing tradition that includes the Stonewall riot that set fire to the drive for GLBTQ civil equality, the first pride parades, and the incredible fundraising for AIDS hospice, education and treatment by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. They are usually the first to offer help, whether it is by hosting a fundraiser, marching on a politician’s office, or fighting a basher.
So, please don’t dismiss drag queens as ‘just’ anything. As a group they are some of the strongest, most amazing, truest people I’ve ever known.
The people who are being snarky about drag here are posting out of prejudice and ignorance. They’ll probably never have the insight and generosity of spirit you or Derrek or his friends have demonstrated. They are jealous because someone else had more self-esteem, more integrity, than they do.
JonathanHasHasIt
You are delusional.
Foxy
@Cassandra: oh! i didn’t mean anything to undermine drag queens at all. in fact, more props to them, honestly. it was more of an invective at the people who actually were undermining them. but thank you for the comment because it will probably clear things up in the future.
Pira
Man, this turned nasty quick. Why do people have to get their panties in a knot over things that don’t affect them? Why can’t we just learn to let people do what makes them happy as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else?
As a cross-dresser myself, I applaud both Derek’s courage to do this and the choice of dress (though I can’t find any pictures of the shoes, I’m going to assume they were fabulous too). Just know that whatever you do, you’re always gonna have haters, I did whenever I did anything girly at high school, so you might as well live your life and do what makes you happy.
Now excuse me, I have a new dress to try on.
JonathanHasHasIt
Self-loathing homos, trannies, young boys who want to dress up like girls and sing to “Glee”, can´t we do a better job about teaching our youth?
RedRightAnkle
@ AlwaysGay
It’s so blatantly obvious you know nothing about the larger queer community it’s almost embarrassing. If a type of gender expression exists, trust me, I don’t care what it is or how “weird” you think it is or how uncomfortable it makes you, there will absolutely be people who are attracted to it. Often MANY people. We are no longer so constrained by the rigid butch/femme, gay/straight dichotomies of earlier generations. There are SO MANY different ways that we can express both our genders and our sexualities, and no matter how we see ourselves and how we choose to express that identity, it DOES NOT preclude us from finding partners or from finding love.
@ Derrek
Congratulations!!! Whenever I hear stories like this it always makes me so giddy. It sounds like you have an amazing support system and some pretty fucking awesome friends. Don’t let any of the ‘phobes going crazy in the comments bring you down. You are fucking fabulous.
And just an aside to those friends who showed up to support, this may seem like something insignificant, but you have NO IDEA how heartened I was to see many using what seem to be Derrek’s preferred pronouns. It’s something so small, but it can mean so so so much, and it just makes me happy to see high schoolers who seem so cool and nonchalant about it.
Prom123
There are plenty of prom dresses available online today.Girls should have cheap prom dresses for the special night. And search for prom dresses under 100 2010 to follow the fashion trend.
Emily
as for any comments about what kind of gay man he wants to be what kind of ignorant crap is that. The world is a melting pot and the only thing anyone should care about is whether he is happy and loves himself, and that seems pretty obvious… he is awesome. My son just recently told me he is gay I already knew, and I support him in every way. We should always be free to be happy and love ourselves, society tries to discourage that enough. I think people like AlwaysGay need to categorize everything which makes you not that different from the ones who fell that being gay is some disease they can cure you from, which is obviously ridiculous and shows their mentality as very low. There is no this kind of gay or that kind of gay, there are just people who love who they love are attracted to who they are attracted to… so this whole cross dresser remark is like I said ridiculous. We love people who may one day look like a million bucks and tomorrow look like wow did you get the number of the truck that hit you. I am in awe of Derrek, I hope my son grows to love himself and accepts that he is not flawed, or defective I hope he sees how truly awesome and amazing he is.. I hope someday he can see himself through my eyes…KUDOS TO YOU DERRECK