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Trenton community polarized over transgender homecoming queen

Jae Irizarry was voted Homecoming queen Friday, but by Sunday, the validity of Trenton Central High’s Homecoming election came into question.

High school homecoming season is upon us, and while some homecoming court stories receive universal love and support, others are met with a little more contention.

Trenton Central High School student Jae Irizarry found that out when she was elected homecoming queen, making her the city's first transgender student to receive the honor. Irizarry was voted homecoming queen on Friday, but by Sunday, the validity of Trenton Central High's Homecoming election came into question. The Trentonian then published an account featuring an anonymous source afraid of retribution who claimed the voting process was rigged.

The source, "who works at TCHS" and has "intimate knowledge of activities at the school," said the ballot box was left unattended, allowing students to submit multiple votes as a joke. However, other sources say it was the teacher responsible for the voting process that stuffed the box with fake votes hoping to "make history."

Then, there are the concerned parents who feel that since Irizarry is registered as a male at school, she shouldn't have been allowed to run for homecoming queen against other girls. Parents felt allowing Irizarry into the competition was unfair, could make girls feel inferior, and that there should be a separate LGBTQ homecoming category.

Marie "Murf" Antoinette told The Trentonian Irizarry's election was a slap in the face to girls and boys attending the homecoming ceremony.

"The young man who was crowned king refused to walk with another male," Antoinette said.

Monday, though, the publication published a piece with statements from the school saying the voting process was not rigged.

"Nothing could be further from the truth as the vote was consistent with Trenton Central High School's protocol and procedure," said district spokesman Perry L. Lattiboudere.

Despite allegations that the homecoming election was rigged, Irizarry told Jezebel she's been receiving positive feedback from her community. In fact, she said she only ran for homecoming queen at the urging of her peers and was surprised to have won.

[Jezebel]