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Cassidy Lynn Campbell,

Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California made history Friday night by crowning transgender teen, Cassidy Lynn Campbell, its 2013 Homecoming queen.

Cassidy, who was born Lance Campbell, has only been living as a woman for the past three years.

Though Cassidy says that she faced backlash from some of her classmates, she says that she’s proud to be a symbol of progress:

I realized it wasn’t for me anymore and I was doing this for so many people all around the county and the state and possibly the world and I am so proud to win this not just for me, but everyone out there,” Campbell said.

See KTLA report below:

Masen Davis, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center, released a statement congratulating Campbell on her win and applauding Marina High School for accepting the transgender teen and being a blueprint for America:

“Running for high school homecoming queen represents a right of passage for many young women across our nation. By running for – and winning! – the homecoming crown at Marina High School, Cassidy Campbell proves that she has earned acceptance and respect from her fellow students,” said Davis. “That she has done this as an out transgender woman makes the accomplishment even more impressive. Congratulations Cassidy! Congratulations Marina High! Thanks for showing America what transgender youth can do when they are given the opportunity to succeed in school.”

Read more from KTLA News.

Transgender stigma and marginalization, specifically in Black America, has been in the news recently in light of HOT 97 DJ Mister Cee admitting that he’s attracted to transgender women:

Have I lied about getting head in a car from a transsexual? Yes. I have been in denial about this for a very long time. Do I consider myself gay? No. I have gotten fellatio from transvestites. And that’s as far as it went. I never had actual sexual intercourse with another man. Or vice versa.

I know that I love women. But occasionally I get the urge to have fellatio with a transsexual, a man that looks like a woman.

RELATED: Mister Cee Speaks His Truth: ‘I Get The Urge To Have Fellatio With A Transsexual’ [VIDEO]

 

In a gripping essay, writer and LGBTQ activist, Janet Mock, explains how transgender women are  often othered in society, leaving them vulnerable to violence and exploitation.

This pervasive ideology says that trans women are shameful, that trans women are not worthy of being seen and that trans women must remain a secret — invisible and disposable. If a man dares to be seen with a trans woman, he will likely lose social capital so he must adamantly deny, vehemently demean, trash and/or exterminate the woman in question. He must do this to maintain his standing in our patriarchal society. For a man to be associated with a trans women, in effect, is to say that he is no longer a “real” man (as if such a thing exists) because he sleeps with “fake” women (as if such a thing exists).

Read Mock’s complete essay at JanetMock.com.

California High School Crowns Transgender Homecoming Queen  was originally published on newsone.com