Homecoming is coming up on September 3rd, 2016 and with a new theme Fire Within, comes a new rule. Gay couples and binary couples are now allowed to run for homecoming royalty.

Courtney Page and I went around the school to talk to members of Stugo and homecoming nominees about this change.

We talked to Stugo instructor, Lerina Johnson. She mentioned that the rule of homecoming nominees had been adjusted to being not just straight couples, but to gay couples as well. After Johnson revealed that it was Stugo’s idea to change up the original standard, we hurried over to find Monroe Matson, head of royalty committee. We asked her about the change in policy and how now, instead of nominating kings and queens, it would be couples; to make homecoming more acceptable for nominees. She replied by saying, “Stugo decided that instead of voting for the highest girl and boy for each class separately, couples would be nominated.” She then told us how the nominations were held. People nominated their favorite couples that they wanted to win, then the highest voting couple would move on and get into becoming homecoming royalty nominees.

Having this new regulation gives more couples an opportunity to win.

We then proceeded to talk to Matthew Maltese, a senior nominated for homecoming royalty with Gav Shade. Maltese voiced their opinion, “I feel like it’s just something that should just be normal anyway because it’s not a big deal- for me at least.” Maltese made it clear how it should be normal in all high schools to have gay couples as homecoming royalty nominees. Maltese is very excited about being a nominee with Shade.

In order to get a student’s opinion on the concept, we interviewed sophomore Sydney Wolfe. Wolfe explained, “I really don’t mind it, my whole opinion on that is if somebody genuinely loves someone, then they should be able to be with them.” Sydney said the same rule should apply and that they shouldn’t be discriminated just for the way they feel. Sydney thinks the gay and binary couples have a total opportunity to win, and although they might not, they do have a good chance of putting themselves out there.

At the halftime during the homecoming game tonight at 7, the junior and senior royalty nominees will be chosen..