Teen Makes History As First Transgender Homecoming Queen In Florida

Oct 12, 2021 by apost team

Choosing homecoming royalty is a time-honored tradition at high schools in America. However, one 17-year-old transgender student has made history this year after she was chosen to represent her school as homecoming queen. In late September 2021, Evan Bialosuknia was crowned homecoming queen at Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, making her the first trans student to do so. 

Evan was thrilled about the nomination initially but did have some fears that the attention was not in good faith and she would be mocked by her peers. The day she was crowned, Evan was met only with applause and cheers as the student body at Olympia High School called out in support. After that, Evan knew she was accepted for who she is at her school. 

Evan's mother, Marnie, has been loving and supportive of her daughter since she first told her that she was a girl at age two and a half. Marnie was just as excited about the announcement of the homecoming queen and said that she hopes more students will follow Evan's example and feel safe and comfortable being themselves at school, especially if their home life isn't as supportive.

The newly crowned homecoming queen said she has been much happier since coming out as trans at the beginning of the school year, despite some troubles with bullying. Overall, Evan said that her life has been better since she has been able to present herself as who she truly is. Keep reading to learn more about Evan and her journey to becoming homecoming queen. 

Evan shared with CNN that after she was nominated for homecoming queen, she tried not to get her hopes up. "I was pretty excited to walk on homecoming court and to be a part of it, but I was also nervous even if I were to win, what if people were doing it to make fun of me," she said. "People are cruel these days. You never know what could happen."

After her name was announced as the winner and she heard the thunderous cheers from the crowd, Evan knew her peers supported her. "It was just, like, a relief of so much anxiety, as well," she said. "Just, like, knowing that I have everyone by my side and (they) are actually here for me ... makes this process of transitioning feel a lot better."

Despite the overwhelming positivity, there are still people at Evan's school that don't understand her, and she says they probably never will. "Me winning isn't trying to change anyone's mind to accept me and understand it," she said. "It's just to show anyone can do anything, and if you're a part of the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn't make you weirder or (more of) a loner than everyone."

Marnie is proud of her daughter but does look forward to a future where a transgender homecoming queen doesn't seem as out of the ordinary. "My hope is that, maybe five years from now, this wouldn't be newsworthy," she said. "Evan's the first, but she won't be the last."

Evan has had to face a lot of adversity already in her life, but she doesn't let that hold her back. She offered some advice for anyone struggling to be themselves: "If you present yourself as a strong, outgoing, beautiful person, then that's how you're going to look."

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