Who is Tristan Young? Internet divided over transgender teen being crowned 'homecoming queen' at Missouri school
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Tristan Young, 17, a young transgender woman from Kansas City has been selected as the homecoming queen from her school.
Young, a senior student of Oak Park High School in Kansas City was crowned the homecoming queen on Friday, September 15.
Her school district, the North Kansas City School District even celebrated the feat by posting about her win on their social media handle, reported NBC.
However, Young’s win did not site well with a section of netizens. The post by the school district was met with significant backlash online but several people also celebrated Young's win.
Our queen. Happy HoCo! pic.twitter.com/adkJqENM2h
— Oak Park High School (@Northmen_OPHS) September 16, 2023
Tristan Young becomes second trans homecoming queen from same school
Young is, however, not the first trans homecoming queen from the school as eight years ago another trans woman, Landon Patterson, was crowned with the same title.
Sharing Young’s photo with the other queen candidates, the school district tweeted a congratulatory post writing, “Congratulations to @Northmen_OPHS Homecoming Queen Tristan Young! 🥳👑”
Congratulations to @Northmen_OPHS Homecoming Queen Tristan Young! 🥳👑 pic.twitter.com/5qP9DKEfPR
— NKC Schools (@NKCSchools) September 16, 2023
Justice Horn, chair of the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission, also celebrated Young win’s by writing on X, “I want to pause and congratulate Tristan for being crowned Oak Park High School’s Homecoming Queen!"
He also added, "I uplift this against the transphobic comments against this young person who was named queen by their peers. I’m thankful the next generation of Kansas City is so kind.”
I want to pause and congratulate Tristan for being crowned Oak Park High School’s Homecoming Queen! 👑
— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) September 19, 2023
I uplift this against the transphobic comments against this young person who was named queen by their peers. I’m thankful the next generation of Kansas City is so kind. 💓 https://t.co/MDpsuQJ14T
Tristan Young's victory slammed as win for 'patriarchy'
While Young's winning the title as the Homecoming Queen comes up as the second in eight years, the school's decision has split the Internet.
While some lauded the decision of crowing a trans girl, the others weren't convinced.
One social media user's tweet, dripping with sarcasm, read, "So brave and stunning to be going along with the current thing."
So brave and stunning to be going along with the current thing
— BowTiedKong (@BowTiedKong) September 22, 2023
However, someone else quipped, "Imagine being so misogynistic that you run for homecoming Queen to show the girls who the real boss is in school."
Imagine being so misogynistic that you run for homecoming Queen to show the girls who the real boss is in school.
— Whatevs (@j035ich5pach) September 22, 2023
Another user chimed in supporting Young, "Her follow students admire her; no controversy here."
Her follow students admire her; no controversy here.
— shelly - MCV-research / CATS Initiative (@shelly2161) September 22, 2023
Simultaneously, another user hit back saying, "So we’re teaching young women that men are better women than they are. The patriarchy strikes again."
So we’re teaching young women that men are better women than they are. The patriarchy strikes again.
— 564.eth (@ENSemoji) September 22, 2023
"Don't the kids get to decide this? Why should anyone else have a say in who they choose?" said a social media user.
Don't the kids get to decide this? Why should anyone else have a say in who they choose?
— KK Lena 🟧🌈☮️ (@meltedpotmama) September 22, 2023
Another concerned user added, "Mark my words this isn’t good for society. And it’s mostly men taking over woman. Not the other way around. Once again woman get the short end of the male stick."
Mark my words this isn’t good for society. And it’s mostly men taking over woman. Not the other way around. Once again woman get the short end of the male stick.
— Jared Michaels (@JaredMichaels17) September 22, 2023
The same was resonated by others, where one of the dissenters said, "Women are being erased again. It’s a man’s world all over again."
Women are being erased again. It’s a man’s world all over again
— jrdy (@tfd_jrdy) September 22, 2023
"Sick of men stealing from women. The girls should have all just walked away when he was crowned," said another.
Sick of men stealing from women. The girls should have all just walked away when he was crowned.
— Agnes Marie (@AgnesMa2922) September 18, 2023