High school senior Jacob Rudolph publicly tells 300+ students he is an LGBT teen

On 1/26 I discontinued allowing auto-post comments because it was getting too difficult to monitor. Prior to that ALL NEGATIVE COMMENTS **WERE POSTED** IN THEIR ENTIRETY (and will continue to be) because I believe in the free debate of issues. That having been said, hate-based comments, personal attacks, obvious "Trolling" statements designed to start response wars, religious zealotry with condemnations to Hell, Purgatory, eternal damnation and the like do not qualify as negative comments--they are vitriol that adds nothing to intelligent discourse and were (and will continue to be) removed (together with the responses calling the original poster an idiot, etc.).

Video summary:
At the presentation of senior class awards (Class Clown, Most Likely to Succeed, etc.), an LGBT teen publicly announces during his acceptance speech for Class Actor award that he is an LGBT teen and is tired of acting as someone he's not on a daily basis. His classmates clearly approve. He still has six months left of school (as of January 2013).

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[Sha Nay NAy]

jonathan you are a coward, you hate free speech.you are like college campuses that dont allow conservatives clubs on campus.

[Jonathan Rudolph]

Making broad statements without anything to back them up isn't discussion, Sha Nay NAy, it's vapid trolling. If you want to expound on your statements and explain why you think those things are true--or, even better, to explain how you're not a coward for refusing to post your real name--I'd love for you to do so and you'll see it in full black and white here. What you won't see, however, is any further trolling posts. Either actually join the discussion or go lurk on some other thread. :)

[Sha Nay NAy]

you gays cant stand free speech can you. say something against you and you ban it. jonathan rudolph is a liberal coward.

[Jonathan Rudolph]

I'm sorry you didn't actually share your opinion. I'd've posted it (as I've posted every negative/disagreeing comment before yours). I value disagreement as much as positivity. The only things I don't post are vituperative religious rants and vitriolic personal attacks (including if they're made by supporters against those who post negative comments). Read the video description as to why. Finally, the irony of your posting under an anonymous name while calling me a coward is *priceless*.

[Jonathan Rudolph]

To help you understand better, here's a representative example of something I didn't post, so you and others have an idea of what things don't add to rational discourse: "Flipping faggot I hope you have a great fiery hot date with Satan in Hell you disgusting gayboy. Why has there recently been a large increase in homosexuality among white men? And they wonder why the white population numbers are decreasing," [No one shd bother to comment on this; I won't dignify it further with any response]

[Jonathan Rudolph]

So, Sha Nay NAy, if you have something other than a post like the above that you'd like to add to the discussion, I will happily post it. But don't expect to see anything you submit to be seen if it contains that kind of useless baiting troll-speak like that one. Hope to receive a real post from you soon.

[kingrejectfo2]

fucking phaggot

[MAC616]

Every teen that is heterosexual needs to put it out there in a short speech, too. Also if they like the color blue, movies, playing sports,cod...wait, who gives a shit what sexual preference you have! Just stfu and keep it to yourself.

[LemmingGuide]

You could add subtitles because the background noise is making it kinda hard to understand.

But a good message! We are all equal

[SumFuneeShit]

I appreciate you enduring the crap on here to share this video with us, stay strong the gay community depends on the future of kids like Jacob to keep moving forward and changing things so Thank You for doing such a good job with your children i appreciate it. : )

[AmberElaine0824]

Not true. We are fine with free speech, but we're also going to freely tell you when you're wrong.

[tinhouse544]

that brought tears to my eyes. thank you for sharing it =]

[Rickie Bartlett]

Good News For The Lgbt Community With Rickie Bartlett

[fiercelittleginger]

this is so awesome, so brave, so amazing! be proud of who you are! right on man c:

[CityDragon927]

how can this have 823 negative votes?! shame on you. shame. shame shame shame.

[Shortandslicked911]

Nice one Jacob ! Being gay is a lifestyle and not a disease . Those who don't know that , well it's their problem ! You are true to yourself bro and that makes you a man .