Gay student inspires, lauds fellow students in graduation speech

A student at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado had a message to share with his peers about his high school experience as a gay man.

Now his hopeful, positive account of coming out during adolescence is quickly circulating to a much broader audience with comments praising his graduation speech as courageous and inspiring.

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Theodore Chalfen told the student body he wouldn't waste any time before getting to the point.

"I'm gay," he said, adding that nearly everyone probably already knew that because he had come out as a freshman. The rest, as they say, was high school history.

Chalfen said he thought carefully before deciding to be honest about his sexuality.

"I was fully prepared to endure taunting, social ostracization and even physical abuse," Chalfen said.

What he found instead was an outpouring of support, he said in the speech. He thanked his peers for acceptance.

Comments on Twitter and YouTube commended the student for his wise words.

Chalfen ended by tying his personal experience to the future.

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"If you're as good to your co-workers and, I'm sure, eventual employees, as you've been to me, you will have nothing but success in this world," he said.