Craig Cassey, Jr., is the epitome of a student-athlete, certainly a logical choice to be named prom king during this, his senior year, at Penncrest High School in Pennsylvania.
Cassey, 19, is taking all advanced-placement (AP) courses and is a member of the National Honor Society. He also is an AP Scholar and has been a part of his school's academically gifted program since second grade.
Cassey, who lives in Media, Pa., is a standout for the school's track-and-field team, where his specialty is the 800-meter race—and his best time is one minute, 55 seconds.
As a sophomore, Cassey led off his school's 4x800 relay during the state finals and ultimately helped the team run the 10th-fastest time in the nation.
Cassey won the MVP award at the Chichester Relays, All-Delco (local league) this past indoor season, was team MVP and won the Larry Simmons Award, given for sportsmanship, integrity, leadership, and a love of track and field.
He is heading to Georgetown University in the fall to continue his track-and-field career.
Lastly, on May 7, Cassey was named the prom king at Penncrest.
"I believe I was elected because of my reputation in school for being positive, friendly, and accepting," Cassey said. "I can honestly say that I'm friends with practically all of my [classmates] and, as student council president, I have worked hard to help foster an accepting climate—not just for LGBT youth, but for everyone."
Cassey is gay, having come out before the end of his freshman year.
"I was shocked and ecstatic, especially since I won with a great friend and I truly believe my crowning speaks to the changing climate at my high school," Cassey said of the announcement, made at Drexelbrook, the Delaware Valley's premier Philadelphia wedding venue, corporate events center and banquet facility, located in Delaware County, Pa.
"I actually didn't know I won as I was standing on an outdoor balcony when they announced my name, so I heard from a friend and came running in to receive the crown."
Cassey was named prom king an hour before the prom ended. He was one of eight male finalists.
Cassey attended prom with a female friend, Brigid, who he has known for years—not his boyfriend of about four months, Carl Morelli.
"I did not take my boyfriend to prom due to circumstances which arose in the final three months prior to my prom," Cassey said. "My mother, who was been extremely supportive of me in many of my interests—and is progressing on her own journey of acceptance after my coming out—had expressed her adamant concern [about taking a male to prom] and after many heated conversations, I took the time to re-evaluate our situation.
"During this time, my mother led our school's largest fundraiser called Relay for Life, which benefits the American Cancer Society, as well as our school's after-prom party which both took place within a week of each other, leading to a lot of stress. My decision not to take Carl to prom was one made to maintain balance in my life and enable my mother to achieve her goals just as she has enabled me to achieve mine."
However, Cassey and Morelli danced together the day after the school's prom.
"My coming-out process was extremely gradual and relaxed in that everything was handled using one-on-one conversations and I did not use any shocking outlets for my coming out, such as Facebook," Cassey said. "While coming-out all at once as a celebration of your homosexuality is proper for some people, I found it important to take a slower pace in order to acclimate my teammates and friends with the idea. With less shock comes less conflict and, consequently, all of my peers have been very accepting."
Cassey said his classmates have been "extremely supportive." Many have congratulated and supported him, he said.
"While I knew many of my classmates were supportive, I never imagined that so many of them would verbalize their support," Cassey said.
Cassey said his middle-distance track coach has been a solid supporter ever since he found out, and has worked to ensure that the school's track team was a positive, accepting environment.
"While I cannot say with certainty that all of the teachers [at the school] are 100 percent supportive, I can state that the majority have held conversations with me about my writing [on my] gay-themed blog. And they have congratulated and praised me for my efforts while thanking me for all that I have done. The administration has always been supportive and they are a large part of why our school is as accepting as it is today."
So, any negative reactions/responses to coming out?
"Aside from a few situations, I have endured very few negatives since coming out," Cassey said. "[Perhaps] because I strive to help everyone in my school, whether that means helping them with homework, connecting them with clubs, or counseling them when they're down, so I have built a friendship with many students. My extreme optimism and positive [approach], and staunch adherence to my own anti-bullying policy and fairness to all, has led to a situation where no one bullies me and hasn't … for a long time. I believe that becoming a positive, proactive force in a community has disabled others' ability to bully me simply because they don't want to. Who wants to bully the nice kid who not only helped you study for a math test, but baked a cake to celebrate a classmate's birthday? Such actions aren't bribing students to not bully me; they are actions taken to help them and foster community."
Cassey's boyfriend is a high school junior, though he attends a different school, Sun Valley. The schools are apart 20 minutes apart.
"We have a lot in common, as we're both athletes, [plus] academically and artistically inclined, and we both love to laugh," Cassey said.
Clearly, Cassey has shined in a teen world that, quite often, can be filled with sadness and sorrow—or even worse.
So, to those struggling teens, Cassey said: "Stick in there and understand that, while it does get better, it can get better now! Learn to love yourself for who you are as self-acceptance can change your world and that will help you stand strong against any injustice you may be facing. And seek out support, whether in your hometown or online from The Trevor Project or bloggers like me—we love to talk and help."
Cassey is an inspiration, without question.
"I have yet to think of myself as an inspiration for many, merely an athlete who wants to make a difference," he said. "It seems the two go hand in hand when one starts to successfully make a difference, so, for those who I am an inspiration to, it shows that my work and the work of others like myself is still needed in some way or another. It also means that we should hold ourselves to a higher calling. I am extremely flattered by being called an inspiration.
"My world has grown to include so many new people through my writing and online contacts which I am endlessly grateful for. Not only have I seen the beginning of my blog culminate [in] national media exposure, but, because of that, I have seen first-hand how my community reacts to an openly gay student when faced to acknowledge his story—and they have responded with acceptance and pride, both in their community and in my school. That is an experience I will never forget."
Cassey was interviewed live on MSNBC this spring, among other mainstream media outlets. And he was well aware of the Windy City Times and Outsports.com recent report that 27 sports people have come out in 2011.
"To have so many athletes come out in such a short time span is incredible and I can only imagine the impact that will have in the following months. That, to me, is beyond exciting," he said.
Cassey said he's looking forward to Georgetown in the fall, where he will vault onto a Division I college team. "It's quite the opportunity and I am very thankful for it," he said.
"I haven't heard of any reactions [from the Georgetown coaches to my sexual orientation.] I was going to hold off until I was actually at Georgetown to tell the coaches, but due to recent news coverage of my story, they may already know.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't [a bit nervous]. I feel it's important to be aware of your situation and always acknowledge the risks one is taking, which are increased by being an openly gay athlete as opposed to a closeted one. But Georgetown University has a very active LGBTQ Resource Center which I hope to work with to ensure that my time at Georgetown is positive, from start to finish, and that the obstacles I face are those of running fast times, not running down homophobia."
Cassey said his long-term goals are to strengthen already-existing LGBTQ organizations to prevent them from dying out due to economic strains, and also to counsel more youth, among other things.
