17-year-old Mason Bleu came out as bisexual while making his valedictorian speech at his NYC school’s graduation.
The aspiring actor took to Twitter yesterday (29 June) to post a video of the inspiring speech.
‘So I came out during my valedictorian speech,’ he tweeted. ‘It was definitely the scariest thing I’ve ever done but the reaction was amazing.’
He then added: ‘Thank you to everyone who supported me!’
In the video, Mason talks about being proud of what you’ve accomplished but to ‘always remain humble’.
‘I’ve struggled to be proud of something all my life,’ he said in the speech. ‘Since I’m preaching about being proud today, it’d be hypocritical of me to continue hiding.
‘For a long time, I have struggled with my sexuality. I’ve dodged it and ignored it because I wasn’t proud of who I am. But today I’m changing that.
‘I’m proud to be a bisexual man,’ he revealed.
Valedictorian: ‘Thank you so much and happy Pride!’
As soon as the words left his mouth, the audience erupted into cheers and applause. Then members of his graduating class in the audience, as well as faculty on stage, gave him a standing ovation.
Mason then continued: ‘I’ve struggled with being proud of myself for a long time because I was afraid that no one else would be proud of me and for me.
‘But an important thing about being proud is that you should always be proud of yourself before you want anyone to be proud of you.
‘On that note, I want to thank everyone for coming out today because I just came out so thank you for coming out,’ he joked.
He finished the speech: ‘Thank you so much and happy Pride!’
So I came out during my valedictorian speech. It was definitely the scariest thing I’ve ever done but the reaction was amazing. Thank you to everyone who supported me! #Pride2019 #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/u8ih03NTJd
— mason 🇩🇴 (@maasonbleu) June 29, 2019
Since posting the video online, it’s had more than 4,000 retweets and over 22,000 likes, at the time of writing.
‘You’re not alone’
Mason exclusively told Gay Star News: ‘Now that I’m out, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, honestly. I didn’t realize how relaxing it would feel to finally tell everyone.
‘Also, I didn’t expect this big of a reaction. I had 15 followers on Twitter when I posted the video and I have over 1,000 now.
‘The most amazing part is that people are DMing (sending direct messages to) me telling me their stories and asking for advice,’ he revealed.
In follow-up tweets, Mason wrote: ‘ I did this not only for me but for anyone else who has struggled being closeted.’
He then added: ‘I know what it feels like to be closeted and think that no one else is like you but trust me you’re not alone. I played basketball, baseball, football, and am pretty masc [and] black. I felt like a total outcast.
‘With that being said, you’re not alone,’ he said.
Mason also revealed he’ll be at World Pride in New York this weekend (29-30 June).
He also later tweeted: ‘Okay now that I’m out I can finally say this. I want a sugar daddy cause college is expensive!’
Mason said he didn’t come out earlier because he thought it would negatively impact on his future acting career.
Then he revealed: ‘I finished filming my first movie two weeks ago and being on set was the most amazing feeling ever. Then I realized, I didn’t wanna grow without uplifting others as well.’
See also
Mormon Republican Nathan Ivie on life after coming out as gay: I feel ‘free’
‘Grateful to be gay’: Actor Connor Jessup pens beautiful coming out essay
‘I’m gay’: YouTuber Eugene Lee Yang of The Try Guys comes out