After a long, difficult and liberating journey, he discovered himself and decided to change his name.Â
His preferred name, Lucas, was announced during the New Braunfels High School graduation ceremony in May.Â
Jay Barton was one of two transgender students at New Braunfels High School who graduated with their preferred names. LISA DREHER | Herald-Zeitung
The graduation of he and another student, Jay Barton, 18, were the first time any NBISD school changed announcements for transgender studentsâ preferred names, district officials said.Â
âIt feels extremely validating because Iâve gone through my entire life, my school life, everything just being invalidated and being just uncomfortable with myself,â Rothrock said.
It was a celebration of people of all sexual orientations and identities.
Recognizing June as Pride Month, New Braunfels and area residents celebrated their own Pride festival on Saturday at Landa Park.
Riverside Pride, a non-profit organization supporting the LGBTQ+ community in New Braunfels and the surrounding area, took over the event from River City Advocacy, which two years ago had the first Pride event in New Braunfels with a Pride Block Party.
The festival included speakers, games and activities, vendor booths, a drag show, a drag queen storytime and a runway competition that included categories such as Best Diva King/Queen, Best River Rat King/Queen and Pride Explosion.
June is Pride Month, and New Braunfels will have its own festival June 26 to celebrate people of all sexual orientations and identities.
Riverside Pride will take over the ceremony from River City Advocacy, which years ago had the first Pride event in New Braunfels with a Pride Block Party. The festival will have speakers, fun games and activities, vendor booths, a drag show and drag queen story time.
Riverside Pride president Aja Edwards said they are excited to throw a Pride event, especially after the pandemic dampened last yearâs plans.Â
âThis year [River City Advocacy] gave the ârightsâ to Pride festival to us,â Edwards said. âIt was the first one of its kind as a first full-fledged big event, so we donât want to take away credit from the event from started years ago. Weâre so excited this is something that as a pretty young nonprofit itâs something that we wanted to do.â
Comal County approves more Annex work herald-zeitung.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from herald-zeitung.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Comal County Commissioners will consider two more change orders for Annex renovations and revising the countyâs agreement with the designer of downtown renovations during their weekly meeting Thursday.
The eighth and ninth change order for the Annex Building Renovation Project, covering interior and exterior changes, will total $213,337, split between the county ($148,262) and contractor SpawGlass Contractors ($65,075).Â
Combined, both will increase the cost of Annex renovations to $11.930 million but not add construction days, which after Februaryâs freeze extended the substantial completion date from July 2 to July 12.
Commissioners will also consider amending its 2017 contract with renovation designer HDR Architecture, Inc. for Annex services. It will set future case work revisions to a lump-sum payment of $12,885, with HDR not subject to payment for additional days spent on the project.