Meet Caleb Miller.
Caleb Miller: “My name is Caleb, my pronouns are he/him.”
Caleb is a 12-year-old boy living in Waco. He loves recording videos, meteorology and his pet axolotl.
Caleb Miller: “Although I think the axolotl gets a bit too much attention.”
Caleb was just 12-years-old, watching a movie with his mom, Sarah Miller, when he came out to her as bisexual.
Sarah Miller: “Well, my first thought was, oh he's telling me, like, this is big. You know, we're going to be like, really supportive, you know? And my second thought was, well, duh. Like, I've known this child since the day he was born and Abso-freakin-lutely my kid, I never thought he was on the straight path ever. So yeah, I wasn't surprised at all. But he's so self-aware and so kind and considerate and willing to listen to people's perspectives. So I was really happy that he was willing to share his perspective of what he was feeling at that time with me.”
Caleb Miller: “My mom was like, not surprised, but cool <laughter>.”
Sarah, who has been out as a lesbian for nearly eight years, is involved in multiple local LGBTQ+ organizations. She says providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth is essential for any community.
Sarah Miller: “For youths, they need to know they're okay and they're not a freak. They're not alone. I think more and more kids are coming out and more and more kids are being like, it's okay to be queer, but there's so many that are terrified to tell their families at home. So having a group that they can go to and hang out with other kids and also hang out with other adults that are going to be supportive is really important.”
The Waco Pride Network is a non profit organization that supports the local LGBTQ+ community.
Christy Jaynes: “The mission is to just bring community to the LGBTQ+ in the greater Waco area.”
Christy Jaynes, a board member for the Waco Pride Network, works with youth and their families. As a parent of an LGBTQ+ child, she has an understanding of the issues families can face.
Christy Jaynes: “Working with the youth and parents, I see what a struggle it is when kids first come out. And I have just loved being embraced by the Waco community and not feeling alone like I did at first, and realizing that there is a big community in Waco.”
To celebrate the end of pride month, the Waco Pride Network will host a youth masquerade prom tomorrow evening.
Christy Jaynes: “It's important for these types of events because a lot of the LGBTQ community are not able at high school prom to go with their preferred partner or partner or wear their preferred outfit. So this is just a celebration of them being able to come together and be their true self and celebrate the end of pride with their friends.”
Caleb will be one of many people attending the youth prom tonight.
Caleb Miller: “I’m just excited to say I’ve been to a prom.”
The masquerade prom will be at Cultivate 7Twelve from 7 pm to 10 pm tonight.
For additional information, you can visit wacopridenetwork.org
