Rebeca Arellano and Haileigh Adams of Patrick Henry High School become one of the first lesbian couples crowned homecoming king and queen in nation this weekend.

Arellano, a senior, expressed her excitement when she received the honor of becoming the school’s first female homecoming king during a pep rally on Friday: “They were chanting my name and it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had.”

Arellano’s girlfriend, Haileigh Adams, was made homecoming queen during the dance Saturday night.

Arellano was ecstatic and posted on Facebook that night, saying, “I was happier than when I won, my little Haileigh has just been announced Homecoming queen and I couldn’t feel happier! Thanks to every single one of you! You guys made this happen and we are all part of something huge. I can’t fully express how grateful I am. I am in completely shocked that this happen. My girl looks absolutely flawless.”

The girls relayed their excitement onto ABC News, expressing their gratitude for the huge support from their family, friends, and students and staff at the school.

One of Arellano’s teachers even told her, “Today school is a bit better because of you girls.”

Her friends also spammed her Facebook wall with congratulatory notes, to which she responded, “Thank you for allowing this change to happen.”

Unfortunately, the girls have received negative feedback as well.

Adams says, “We have a lot of support, but there are also a lot of people who are angry about it. Anonymous Patrick Henry students are saying they’re embarrassed and that it’s wrong for a girl to take the spot of king. But there’s no other way for us to run as a couple. It’s not really fair for us not to have the right to run as a couple.”

Arellano then posted a fiery response to the hate they received on her Facebook wall: “For all the girls who think tradition should be continued, go back to the kitchen, stop having sex before you’re married, get out of school and job system, don’t have an opinion, don’t own any property, give up the right to marry who you love, don’t vote, and allow your husband to do whatever he pleases to you. Think about the meaning of tradition when you use it in your argument against us.”

The girls both came out during their freshman year, and began dating in February as sophomores. Arellano and Adams said that their parents were supportive in both cases.

I believe these girls should be given a round of applause. As a result of their actions, I can see more public acceptance of LGBT couples in the future. I just can’t believe it’s taken this long for some people to embrace the LGBT community. Arellano and Adams will probably face more hardships in the future, but they will have my full-on support along the way.

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