“Bullitt County Senior Class President Comes Out During Graduation Speech”
Anthony W. Smallwood
Anyone who knows me knows that one of my biggest goals in my life is to try to get every person that I come in contact with to realize that they are worthy of goodness and love and to make sure that they love themselves. So, when I recently found out about this young man, Cash Collins, and the story of how he publicly “came out” during his Class President speech at his high school graduation, I knew I had to find out more.
It wasn’t overly poetic or drawn out. Just simple, direct and honest. Here is the excerpt from the end of his speech… “And lastly, I would like to thank everyone in the Class of 2013. Thank you for electing me to be your Class President, and I hope that I have lived up to your expectations. I believe it speaks volumes that this class has the strength to elect a gay student, myself, to represent and speak for them.”
Below is his story that I learned from our interview and I hope that after you read it, you too will be as inspired and touched as I was. If this young man represents the future of the young people in our community, then we can rest assured that the future is in good hands.
AWS… So Cash, what made you want to do such a courageous act during your graduation speech?
CC… You asked me to think hard on why I made the decision that I did. I have been out to my closest friends since freshman year, and I have slowly expanded the circle of people who know that I am gay. I understand that secret-keeping is not a well practiced talent among most individuals, and I readily accept the consequences of that knowledge. By the end of my senior year, most everyone knew that I was gay. It wasn’t really a secret; it was an accepted truth that went unspoken–or at least that was my impression. By publicly acknowledging this unspoken truth, I felt that I was taking back what has always been mine. I refuse any and everyone the ability to transform this truth into a weapon of fear against me.
AWS… But weren’t you nervous or afraid? It isn’t everyday that someone makes such a bold statement publicly like you did – especially at your age.
CC… Yes, I was still afraid. I was afraid even as I typed out my speech. I called only two people for advice, my father and one of my closest friends. They both supported me full-heartedly. I’m not afraid of public speaking. I wasn’t afraid of my classmates or loved ones or strangers in that audience. I was afraid, however that censorship would be forced upon me; that proclaiming my sexuality during such a proper ceremony would be considered inappropriate and uncouth. Yet, the administration of my school fully supported my decision and commended me for my bravery.
And that was another factor in my decision. Bravery. Courage. I have never considered myself brave until this summer during the Governor’s Scholar Program when I came out to my friends and fellow scholars. Those people were the epitome and hybrid of strangers and loved ones. I had only known them a few weeks, but I felt like they were more like me than anyone else I have ever met. But I still wrestled with telling them. At the end of the program, most everyone that I had gotten to know, scholar and teacher alike, told me that I was one of the bravest individuals they had ever had the privilege of knowing. And that is the best feeling I have ever experienced. Since then, I have strived to live up to the title in every pursuit.
AWS… Cash, I am sure you realize that there are many young people out there that lack your courage and don’t have the support that you were fortunate enough to have. Do you really understand how many other young people that might be struggling with their own sexuality who are going to look at what you have done and consider your act of courage to be a huge act?
CC… In respect to my graduation speech, I did decide that coming out publicly was not only for me, but also for the ones that have trouble finding the strength and courage to do so themselves. I hoped to lend them courage given to me by my loved ones. After all, as Class President, I am merely the voice of my fellow classmates. I wanted to do what was right.
AWS… So, what is next for you Cash?
CC… Currently, I’m looking for a job, quite unsuccessfully thus far. I’m going to be a freshman at UofL this coming fall, studying Political Science. I was chosen as a Harlan Scholar, one of ten, which means that I will be part of a program that helps prepare ten students in each graduating class for law school, and I have a guaranteed spot at UofL’s Brandeis School of Law if I score in the 75th percentile or above on the LSAT. I hope to study abroad while in college, and am thinking of joining the Peace Corps when I graduate from law school.
AWS… If you could look into a crystal ball and see your future right now, what would you want your life to look like at age 40?
At age 40, I hope my life is a balance of things mundane and special. I hope to have a nice house, a husband, and children. I hope to be practicing law, specifically civil rights law with a focus on LGBT issues. I’ve always wanted to be important, to make a difference, to change people’s lives and history, to be remembered. I cling to the hope that I can escape a life of quiet desperation.
AWS… Cash, thank you for letting us tell your story. You have a huge future ahead of you and I hope that you achieve all that you desire and continue to be an inspiration to others. It has been a true pleasure to learn about you. Stay strong and fabulous!