Eric Irizarry was not expected to be named Homecoming King at Waukegan High School because, as he said, he is not the athlete of the school.
Ariana Reiff was not expecting to be named Waukegan's Homecoming Queen because, as she said, "I'm not all girly."
So much for stereotypes.
Irizarry and Reiff were named Waukegan's royal duo. He is gay; she is a lesbian.
"We are really excited that they chose us. They accepted us enough to vote for us," said Reiff, who has been out for about two years and is "happily taken" on the dating front. "It was really exciting. I was happy to be picked, and very surprised. I just didn't think they'd vote for me."
Reiff, 17, a senior who lives in north suburban Waukegan, is undecided on college for next year. Irizarry, 18, a senior who also lives in Waukegan and has been out for about four years, is considering Illinois State University and Northern Illinois.
"I'm very excited, especially since I didn't think I'd win. I was surprised; I didn't expect either of us to win," he said. "Some people at the school don't really accept gay people, so it was strange, surprising and exciting."
The two were named king and queen during a school-sponsored bonfire at Waukegan Beach on Oct. 2. They went to the dance together, though they danced together and with other students, too.
Irizarry and Reiff were chosen from five finalists for king and queen, and they were the only gay candidates.
"We had a good time [at the Homecoming dance], dancing with everyone," Irizarry said.
Reiff said she had "a blast" at the dance and that they were congratulated by countless students, teachers and school staff.
And yes, Reiff admitted that there were "a couple of haters"students who opposed to gay students being named king and queen.
"Those who [objected], they can do whatever," she said. "They just don't agree with how we are, and don't think we should have won."
Steven Hamlin, director of Waukegan High School's Washington campus, told the Chicago Sun-Times, ""Our students are very accepting of each other's differences in a great variety of ways."
Irizarry said he is the only out gay student at Waukegan that he is aware of. Reiff said there are other out lesbians at Waukegan, and some bisexuals students, too.