Teen comes out as gay in front of packed assembly at Catholic high school
A senior at one of the most prestigious Catholic high schools in Sydney, Australia, received a standing ovation after coming out as gay during a packed assembly. Standing in front of his teachers and 1,500 students at St. Ignatius, Finn Stannard delivered a speech he had been working on for the past four years.
A far cry from the 8th grader who would hide in his room in the dark, Stannard confidently announced to his peers and educators that he was gay during his keynote address in June, the full transcript of which has now been published online by SBS News.
“It took me 18 months after realizing that I was gay to tell my parents. Coming out was a scary experience,” he said in the speech. “Even though I knew my parents loved me there is always a fear that comes with telling those you love something important, and I was afraid of changing myself in their eyes.”
After being the subject of “countless rumors and unpleasant jokes,” Stannard struggled with symptoms of depression and anxiety and feared the reaction he might receive from his friends if he came out. “I didn’t know it was possible to be myself at school. I felt that if I was gay — or different — I could never be accepted. I quickly grew tired of hiding behind the mask I’d made for myself,” he explained. “My main fear was no longer being accepted, of losing my friends, and being the subject of derogatory jokes.”
But after much deliberation he was overwhelmed by the support he received from friends and family. It was this level of understanding that encouraged Finn to share his experiences with his fellow students.
“Surround yourself with the people who let you live as your true self and never be afraid of asking for help,” he said.
Principal Paul Hines told SBS News, “I’m not sure anyone chooses their sexuality, that’s who they are and therefore we need to be open to that and to accept it and to make sure we live in communities of inclusion — and with that will come diversity.”
Since the speech, Stannard attended his school formal with his boyfriend, Tom Moiso. He said the most enjoyable part of the evening was “seeing all these other people with their dates and not feeling any different.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Bowling alley threatens to kick out a lesbian for using the bathroom: ‘My partner was so scared’
‘Boy Erased’ author Garrard Conley on enduring gay conversion therapy: ‘It’s psychological torture’
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