Ryan Allen's Gain of Fame

A recent article that was very appalling to me was an article from MSNBC and on many other websites entitled, "Drag Queen Becomes Homecoming Queen." This was a very interesting article to me for a couple reasons. First, it shows how far we have came as a country and how accepting and supportive Americans really tend to be on subjects such a gay rights. However, an article like this makes me wonder how serious people really take issues such as these. Are people really sincere about issues such as gay rights or is just a humorous approach for public interest and fame? This article is about a drag queen, Ryan Allen, who entered the homecoming queen contest and actually won. He first did it as a joke, but after he won he said it was one of the happiest moments of his life. So which is it? A joke or a real victory and step forward for American diversity?
I remember being in high school and seeing bullies vote in, as they would refer, "not so popular" students into events like homecoming candidate or prom candidate. I remember their snickering and gossiping with their friends about how funny it would be if one of the "not so popular" students won. Listening to them made me raged with anger and in a funny way really saddened. They were not doing this out of sincerity, but pure evil and in the end the "not so popular" student was talked about as the school joke.
After I read this article, I felt the same way, except I did not feel sorry for the Ryan Allen. I felt remorse for him. I felt as if he takes his lifestyle, as does everyone else, as a big joke. He ran for queen as a joke and just happened to win. He did not win because George Mason University is so diverse, but yet because it was new gossip and a way to get a good story that Allen himself participated in. I am "pro-diversity" and a firm believer that every one person must be treated equally no matter how they choose their life and how you portray yourself and show yourself to other must be with confidence. I do not think this is Allen's happiest time of his life, because really, what did he accomplish? He certainly got his fame.