Transgender high school student in N.H. crowned Homecoming King

CONCORD, N.H. — A transgender high school senior in New Hampshire has been crowned homecoming king at Concord High School.

Ray Ramsey, 17, is the school’s first ever transgender homecoming “royalty,” being selected by his peers following a nomination by the Concord High Tide Pride, an LGBT student club.

“I just lost it,” he told the paper after winning and becoming the first transgender student to be elected homecoming king at the school.

Amid cheers from students and hugs from friends, Ray walked over to his dad who grabbed him by the shoulders, looked him in the eye and said, “I am so proud of you.”

“I just lost it,” he told the Concord Monitor.

“He’s just been through a lot, and he’s just a really strong person,” said student Anna Robert, a friend of Ray’s who was crowned homecoming queen. “When I heard his name called, I was like, ‘I can’t even believe it,’ you know?”

Ray said he came out as transgender during his junior year, and recalled telling a friend as early as in kindergarten that he dressed as a boy because he was a “boy-girl.”

“I don’t know why, but I remember saying that, and thinking back now it’s an accurate description,” he said.

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Ray said he’s always found a welcoming environment at home and in school. When he first decided he wanted to be called Ray, he was nervous about telling his parents. Instead of telling them face-to-face, he wrote his dad a note and left it by the coffee pot one morning.

A short time later, Ray said his dad told him he was okay with his decision and would take him to the doctor and support him in any way possible.

Ray said he plans on going through hormone treatments and possible gender reassignment surgery in the future.

“He doesn’t fear any of the repercussions of being completely who he is, and that’s one of the most inspirational things about him,” said Robert.