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It was the first time in his life he had ever told anyone he was gay.
KTEM obtained an exclusive interview with Anderson on Friday after his graduation.
During his senior year, Anderson had a GPA of 112.2, and scored a
perfect PSAT score in his junior year. He said when he found out he
would be the senior class salutatorian, he immediately began thinking
about what he would say to his graduating class. The choice to come out
“felt natural,” Anderson said.
Speaking at his graduation ceremony about being a gay teenager
struggling trying to find his identity felt like the right thing to do,
he said.
The ceremony took place at the Bell County Expo, in Belton on
Thursday, with the largest graduating class in Belton High School’s
history. But the young teen said he was undaunted by the massive crowd.
“Once I got up there and stared talking, I felt completely fine,”
Anderson said of Thursday’s night speech at the Bell County Expo. He
said he told no one of his plans to come out during the speech.
In his speech, Anderson addressed his struggles with coming out and finding acceptance with who he is.
“I myself am guilty of self-doubt, relying on others to give my life
definition,” he said in his speech, “But that time has passed, and I
feel the moment has arrived for me to be publicly true to my personal
identity. So now, I can say, I’m gay. It is both a significant portion
of who I am and an inconsequential aspect. It’s as natural and
effortless to me as breathing. I couldn’t change myself even if I
wanted, and believe me, I have.
He said no one, not even his parents and close friends, knew he was
gay prior to the speech. So far, the teenager said reaction has been
positive.
“I’ve received so much support and kindness,” Anderson said of fellow
classmates and others. “Knowing that [people] found the speech
inspirational has been really amazing.”
Anderson said his parents knew nothing of his plans to come out that night, and have were extremely supportive afterwards.
“[My mom said] ‘I love you’,” and I said “I love you too,” he said. “Dad hugged me. “
As for what inspired him to come out, Anderson said pop culture icons
such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and Star Trek star Zacharay Quinto all
played a role in helping him feel confident about his identity.
“They are all about standing up for who you are, being different,
being unique,” he said. “They’ve gotten strong positive reception for
their [actions].”
Anderson said he wrote two nearly identical speeches about being true
to oneself, one he presented to the administration for approval and
another one for himself that included a specific mention of being gay.
“If you were really intuitive, you might have picked up on the similarities,” he said of the two speeches.
Anderson said he knew he was gay for a good portion of his life, but
that he was not ready to deal with it on a deeper level until last year.
He said that living in a small town in Texas is a mixed bag for a gay
teen, because while the community is tight knit and loving, there are
still elements that are not as accepting.
“It is hard and easy at the same time. So many of the kids in my
school are so completely open minded,” he said. “But then because you
are in Texas, deep in the Bible belt, you have a lot of people with very
deeply rooted beliefs who are not accepting of it at all. It does make
you feel like you’re a second class citizen to them.”
Anderson said he was aware of some negative reaction directed towards
the speech, mostly posted on various community Internet message boards.
Some expressed that it was wrong for the student to use the opportunity
to make the speech about himself. Anderson noted that Valedictorian
Jacob deKeratry also spoke about his own personal experiences as a
teenager.
“I didn’t make the speech all about me,” he said. “It’s about acceptance, about celebrating everyone.”
“It’s a little bit hurtful,” he said of negative comments. “But it’s
really no big deal. I’d rather they direct their hate and anger, at me,
rather than someone else, because I know I can take it and blow it
off.”
While several media outlets were at the graduation, it was hard to
find mention of the topic in the following day’s coverage. One local
paper quoted Anderson’s salutatorian speech, but excluded any direct
reference to his coming out.
“I just think that just shows they are uncomfortable with [the subject matter],” Anderson said.
In the fall, Anderson will attend the University of Texas in Austin,
to study Biology and Psychology, in the hopes of someday becoming a
doctor.
“I love medicine, I find it so fascinating,” he said. “I love most science.”
As for advice for other families or young people dealing with similar
situations, Anderson said they should be true to themselves.
“That’s the most important thing,” he said. “Find them and embrace them.”
“I could not change myself even if I wanted to,” Anderson said.
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