Gay Teen, Sergio Garcia, Wins High School Prom Queen Title in LA

"Prom queen suited my personality the most," said Garcia. "I need to prove to myself I could be myself."

Having submitted his application for queen on May 14, Garcia spent the two weeks leading up to the dance campaigning for the title, delivering a speech before his classmates during which he promised he'd wear a tuxedo and not a full length gown.

"I warned them that I wouldn't wear a dress and that I'd wear a suit, but that deep down I really am a queen," he said.

Garcia told his peers that while prom might have once been considered a popularity contest, that this year would be different.

Garcia, 18, said he saw fliers advertising the prom and the election but they didn't specify that the queen must be female. He thought the role would suit him better than prom king.

"I don't wish to be a girl," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I just wish to be myself."

Senior class president Vanessa Lo said she and other students were initially against the idea but became convinced he wasn't just an attention-seeking clown.

"It just goes to show how open-minded our class is," Lo said