A gay student receives an ovation after being out in front of the entire Catholic school

published

November 27, 2018 21:15:36

A student from a Catholic boys' school was ovationed when he declared himself gay during a speech at the badembly.

Finn Stannard, a grade 12 student at St Ignatius College Riverview in Sydney, said at 7:30 pm that he had delivered the speech for his "young me".

"I have been working on this speech for four years," Stannard told 1,000 students.

"Over these four years, I have come to understand who I am and how not to be sorry to be myself.

"Outside the home, being gay has not always been easy.I have been the subject of countless unwelcome rumors and jokes.

"Telling friends was difficult and very worrying, my main fear was that I would not be accepted anymore, my friends would be lost, and my jokes would be ridiculous."

Mr. Stannard said at 7:30 that he was very moved to receive a standing ovation from his peers.

"I had the impression of being part of this community again," he said.

"I felt like I had this chance to be the real me and the people accept me for it – it was just the best feeling in the world."

"I wanted to do it for my youngest age.I did not have a model at school that I could follow to help me understand who I was, how I should behave how could I be me. "

"Mom, I think I could be gay"

Mr. Stannard said that the love and support of his family and boyfriend helped to give him the courage to deliver the speech.

His mother was the first person he came out of.

"I said:" Mom, I think I could be gay. "Although she's really surprised not to be overwhelmed, she did me the most. Big hug, she kissed me and told me that she loved me, "he said.

"It was at that time that I knew that everything would be fine for me … I always knew that I had a family that supported me."

At first, her parents were worried about her intention to present herself to the whole student body.

"Everyone can not be kind to a young man who takes his identity and who is proud of what he is," said Meaghan Stannard.

"So we were worried about the returns that he could draw from his speech."

His boyfriend Thomas Moiso helped him to practice the speech.

"Thomas has been amazing throughout the experience and he has literally held my hand through the situation," said Stannard.

Mr. Stannard gave Mr. Moiso the date of his 12th year in good standing.

Mr. Stannard says everyone at school has been "so supportive".

"They have been so encouraging, the school has been great, they have always supported me," he said.

Next year, Mr. Stannard will begin a teaching degree at the university. And he will follow the public debate on the right of religious schools to hire and fire teachers on the basis of their badual orientation.

"People should be hired for the job if they are the best for the job.Sexuality has nothing to do with it.It's just about how they can help students to to learn and to acquire the capacity to be themselves, "he said.

Topics:

gay and bad,

secondary schools,

Catholic,

Sydney-2000