A middle school principal in Springfield, Massachusetts, who recently came out publicly as a transgender man was honored at the city’s annual LGBTQ pride flag raising.
Chestnut Middle School Principal Declan O’Connor, who for years was known professionally as Colleen O’Connor, said it had become too exhausting to hide the truth.
" I certainly didn't do this to be a role model, I did it because I needed to tell the truth about myself and be my full and authentic self in my public life," O'Connor said in an interview.
Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a proclamation declaring O’Connor has “the full and unwavering support of our community.”
A 23-year veteran educator in Springfield, O’Connor has ,over the last four years,overseen a dramatic improvement in Chestnut Middle school’s academic rankings.
