News (USA)

Superintendent ‘furious’ over threats to lesbian couple voted homecoming royalty

Superintendent ‘furious’ over threats to lesbian couple voted homecoming royalty

SAN DIEGO — The superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District is furious over threats and hate mail sent to a local school, after a lesbian couple was voted in as homecoming king and queen.

Rebecca Arellano (left) and Haileigh Adams

The couple made history when they were elected on Oct. 28.

Senior student Rebecca Arellano was voted the school’s first female homecoming king during the homecoming football game.

Arellano’s girlfriend, Haileigh Adams was, announced homecoming queen the following night during the dance, according to school officials.

The senior girls are the school’s first same-sex couple to win the nomination.

On Monday, Superintendent Bill Kowba interrupted a news conference on the district’s financial troubles to comment on an issue he called just as significant as the budget.

“What is essentially disappointing is that adults who have contacted the school, many not even San Diego residents, are demonstrating such a lack of tolerance and such a negative role model for children with their hateful comments,” Kowba said.

Kowba calls the adults behind the threats “bullies.”

He also says if the calls and emails came from students, they would have faced disciplinary action.

Patrick Henry High School’s Facebook page had dozens of people comment on its page after someone posted, “Patrick Henry just voted a female homecoming king.”

Most of the comments were supportive, saying the election results were “amazing” or “exciting.”

“Hearing about this story at PHHS, makes me very proud of where I came from,” wrote Karen Williams.

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