Transgender Homecoming King Crowned at Twin Cities High School

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. (AP) — A suburban Twin Cities high school has crowned its first transgender homecoming king.

Seventeen-year-old Charlie Baca was crowned Friday at Irondale High School in New Brighton. Associate Principal Andrew Mons says Baca is the first transgender homecoming king at the school of about 1,600 students.

Baca tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press his one goal for his senior year was to pave the way for LGBT underclassmen who may be closeted and struggling. He says being crowned king is "a really big step" that he didn't think he would accomplish.

Baca came out to his parents in August.

His next goal is to start an LGBT club at the high school.