Ah, young love.
Unfortunately for many LGBT teenagers, that first fall into someone’s arms can be more painful than just the risk of heartbreak, thanks to the bullying antics of classmates. LGBT love is much more complicated than trying to steal a kiss from underneath the bleachers, proven almost daily by increasingly heart-wrenching headlines of gay teen suicides.
Thankfully, this love story is a happy one. Not only do the seniors of Calaveras High School in San Andreas, Calif., accept same-sex love, they celebrate it.
Becca Fernandez, 19, with girlfriend Destinee Gates
The senior class voted Destinee Gates and her girlfriend Becca Fernandez, the school’s only open lesbian couple, as Cutest Couple in their senior superlatives.
“It’s a big deal because we’re from a really conservative county and it hasn’t happened before,” said Gates, 18.
“We’ve been pretty well accepted,” said Fernandez, 19. “I love this school,” Gates added.
Principal Ric Stitt said he understands why outsiders might be surprised by the senior vote, but said he’s found the community to be very tolerant.
“Calaveras County and a lot of our rural counties often get stereotyped as being unaccepting,” Stitt said. “And I think that’s a false perception.”
The adorable couple has been dating since freshman year, and plan to attend college together in the nearby town of Columbia. Perhaps in the near future we’ll hear wedding bells for these two lovebirds?
Watch the local news video below:
Photo: unicornbooty.com
