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Blake Brockington recently made history when he became the first transgender teen in the state of North Carolina to be crowned homecoming king, according to WCNC.

The 17-year-old senior made headlines earlier this year when he was nominated by his peers at East Meck High School and had to compete against 13 contenders for the covetous title.

In order to win the honor, Brockington, who was born a girl but identifies as a male, had to raise the most money for Mothering Across Continents, an international non-profit working to build schools in South Sudan. He managed to raise an impressive $2,335.55 of a total $3,203.22. The monies for the charity he raised came from everywhere statewide but mostly via help from Time Out Youth, a local LGBT youth services agency.

Brockington, whose life has not been a breeze, is living with foster parents because his father is reportedly unaccepting of his gender identity. Despite his own personal struggles, Brockington is viewed as an exemplary role model by fellow students, according to student adviser Bill Allen for the Gay-Straight Alliance on campus, “Our young people understand we are all different. We have all races, genders, and religious backgrounds. We have kids representing 30 to 40 languages in this school and people learn to accept each other as they are, and I think this is an example of what is going to be happening in North Carolina,” he contends.

The teen, who is honored to have been bestowed with such a title, plans on enrolling at the University of North Carolina come fall.  He will also continue playing rugby and mentoring young transgender students.  As homecoming king, Brockington, wants to drive home the point that no matter what adversities someone faces, he or she should always cling to their aspirations and never let go, “They can be themselves regardless of what anybody else says. Even though you go through some things and have some negative encounters in your life, anything is possible. You can do anything you set your heart to.”

 

High School Crowns Transgender Student Homecoming King  was originally published on newsone.com