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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.
