LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Instead of a traditional homecoming king and queen, Lakewood High School named three members of royalty after a boy won the race for homecoming queen.

Cooper Robar, who is gay, ran for queen.

The high school wanted to be fair to all students, so officials named three members of "royalty," rather than crowning two students king and queen: Cooper, who won the most votes for queen; Tess Jones, who received the most votes among girls, and Xavier Pedro, who was elected king.

It started out as a lark for Cooper, said his mother, Wendy Robar. But running for queen turned into a statement on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"It was him being a goofball and saying wouldn't it be fun if he could be queen," she said.

Cooper could not immediately be reached for comment.

Lakewood has a reputation as a progressive community on LGBT issues, but this was the first time a boy ran as homecoming queen.

"I was pretty shocked," Wendy said of her reaction when hearing Cooper's name read as a winner. "I was surprised by the roaring of applause and the yelling for Cooper."

None of the contestants or their families knew the results prior to the announcement at Friday's football game against Rocky River. For photographs of Friday's parade and homecoming ceremony, click here.

Wendy said her son, a member of the band, is popular at school, but she was surprised he didn't encounter any serious backlash from critics.

She commended the school administration for supporting Cooper's decision.

School Principal Keith Ahearn said there was nothing in the rules preventing a boy from running as queen, and he decided naming three members of royalty was the fairest way to handle the situation.

Wendy said she and her husband, David, are proud of their son.

"We are very proud of him being able to stand up for himself and tell the world he is who he is and have no misgivings about it," Wendy said.

Cooper and Tess received tiaras at the homecoming dance Saturday, and Pedro received a crown.

In addition to participating in band, Cooper enjoys photography and art and plans in college to major in interior design or fashion design, Wendy said.