DERBY, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old transgender student who advocated for LGBTQ rights at a suburban Wichita high school was crowned king of a winter formal at the school.
The Wichita Eagle reports Tyler Krayer received the most votes from classmates for Holly Ball King at the school’s annual event Saturday night.
Krayer, a senior, says he at first thought it was a joke when he found out a month ago that a classmate nominated him. And he says he was surprised to win the honor.
Hollyball 2k16 was lit. Congrats to my date on becoming the true king that he really is 💚👑 pic.twitter.com/XnpCE5LtYp
— Rudolph 🎄 (@reginawaugh12) December 4, 2016
@ the people who boo’d Tyler when he won Hollyball King last night… sorry, we couldn’t hear you over ALL the cheers.
— Rudolph 🎄 (@reginawaugh12) December 4, 2016
He was one of several students who testified in July before the Derby school board in favor of a school policy that allows students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. He says he was bullied and harassed at previous schools before moving to Derby.