On Friday, Sand Creek High School juniors voted to make Scarlett Lenh the first transgender homecoming princess in the school’s history and possibly the first in Southern Colorado.

“It’s just about being yourself,” Lenh told KCNC-TV. “That’s what I want to do, inspire people. I want everyone to know no matter what body you’re in or what mind set you have, being you is the best feeling in the world. No matter what.”

The Colorado Springs student began to identify as transgender earlier this school year, and not everyone is thrilled about Lenh’s win:



“It’s craziness,” said Jana Neathery, whose granddaughter attends Sand Creek. “Originally, it was a joke that he was going to be nominated for homecoming princess, but he got a lot of nominations,” she said, referring to Scarlett, “and now there are a lot of upset girls because a spot was taken from them. “I’m very sympathetic that he’s transgender, but he should be on the boys’ side, not the girls’.”

“I was like even if I don’t win I’ve already helped a lot of people show them that they can be themselves,” Scarlett Lenh told KRDO-TV. “But I won and I can’t stop smiling.”

KRDO adds:

Scarlett is still physically a boy, but identifies as a female. All year she has worn women’s clothing. “I feel more comfortable like this,” Scarlett said. “I don’t see much of a difference. Same personality, same awesome friend,” said classmate Zach Cote. Scarlett was escorted at half time by two of her best friends. As her name was announced, only cheers could be heard from the stands. “For every one person that does not like what I’m doing I know that there’s 100 that support me,” Scarlett said. District 49 released a statement that reads in part, “Our board policy sets the standard that we do not exclude any person from participating in any program or activity on the basis of gender activity and gender expression.” Students say they understand that this probably wouldn’t or couldn’t have happened in the past. “This is definitely something that can only happen in our generation,” Jonah Lee, a classmate and friend said.

[H/T: Towleroad