Texas gay teen comes out to parents in high school graduation speech

Not too long ago, Texas teen Mitch Anderson considered his life devoid of meaning and useless. He contemplated suicide because he earnestly believed the world would be better off without him.

That all turned around when he came to embrace the fact that he is gay. Last Thursday, he shocked family and friends during his Belton High School graduation by coming out in an epic salutatorian speech that Jezebel describes as "the best graduation speech of our time."

A full copy of the speech can be found here.

In addition to being an exceptionally bright guy with the second highest grades in his class, Anderson's speech demonstrates a depth of character one can only assume comes from years of bullying and struggling to find his place in this world.

"I have been bullied a lot. I’ve been called unspeakable things and relegated to a place of lower class," he says. "I have been made to feel worthless, unneeded, a blight on the world. People have mocked me, said that I was virtually subhuman."

He also fully acknowledges the amount of internal turmoil it took for him to get to place of self-acceptance.

Also see: Yearbook photo of gay couple goes viral

"It sounds so facile, yet discovering and accepting who you are meant to be requires introspection and a willingness to submerge yourself into darkness," he says. "If you know yourself, but incessantly crave an empty approval of others, you will be forever sorrowful."

Anderson realized he was gay many years ago, but hated himself for it, and was not ready to accept it on a deeper level until last year.

“I myself am guilty of self-doubt, relying on others to give my life definition,” he continues. “But that time has passed, and I feel the moment has arrived for me to be publicly true to my personal identity. So now, I can say, I’m gay. It is both a significant portion of who I am and an inconsequential aspect. It’s as natural and effortless to me as breathing. I couldn’t change myself even if I wanted, and believe me, I have."

Luckily, Anderson's parents were completely supportive and told him they loved him and hugged him after his speech.

Though he admits that growing up in Belton, Texas comes with a mixed bag of reactions to homosexuality.

“So many of the kids in my school are so completely open-minded,” Anderson tells local radio station KTEM. “But then, because you are in Texas, deep in the Bible Belt, you have a lot of people with very deeply rooted beliefs who are not accepting of it at all.”

While pubic reaction to his speech has been mostly positive, some have taken to exposing their hate in online message boards.

Also see: Father's unexpected and touching response to his son coming out

“It’s a little bit hurtful,” he says of negative comments. “But it’s really no big deal. I’d rather they direct their hate and anger at me rather than someone else, because I know I can take it and blow it off.”

Anderson's also wise enough to realize people who lash out at him are left internally wanting.

"They have no external peace because internally there is a want of harmony," he says in his speech.

With plans to attend the University of Texas in Austin for biology and psychology and eventually become a doctor, we wish him his greatest potential.

It turns out, Anderson is not the only teen who has recently come out to family and friends in a high school speech.

In January, New Jersey teen Jacob Rudolp came out during an acceptance speech for a Class Actor award and received a standing ovation.

What are your thoughts on teens using high school speeches as a platform to come out? What are the pros and cons of going so public?