Victoria “Vikky” Cruz, 17, and Deoine Scott, 18, made history at their South Bronx high school when they were voted “best couple” this year. The honor came as no surprise, as the two have been dating since their sophomore year of high school. To the greater public the news may be slightly shocking, as their high school lies squarely in the district that belongs to New York State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.
Diaz is an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage in New York, but that is not necessarily representative of his district and the young people who reside in it. According to Maribel, a friend of Vikky’s and editor of their high school yearbook, the pair won “best couple” by a sizable margin. When they began dating sophomore year, they encountered some resistance from their peers, but by senior year, that had largely disappeared.
Vikky and Deoine believe that their relationship has helped to educate those around them in an environment where no LGBT student groups exist. In an article for Advocate.com, Deoine says that she “hopes their honor lays the groundwork for subsequent graduating classes at the South Bronx school. ‘I think now, for other gay people who might go to my school, they will have a chance at getting in the yearbook, since we were the first.’”
Listen to the couple interviewed by WNYC here.
This post contributed by HRC Youth & Campus Outreach Intern Dennie Zastrow.
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