Living Out Loud with Darian

The Advocate profiles Victoria (“Vikky”) Cruz, 17, and Deoine Scott, 18, a Bronx, New York lesbian couple who despite being open with their relationship have not only managed to earn the respect and adoration of their peers but the honor of being named "best couple", a title usually reserved for heterosexual couples.


The pair were overwhelmingly voted “best couple” by their peers in their graduating class at Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School. Their groundbreaking win as the first lesbian couple in the school's history to hold the title earned the couple a picture in the school yearbook.


“Nobody said anything negative about it,” said Deoine. “Everybody said, ‘Oh, that’s good you won. You both look so cute!’”


The pair, who met in a 10th grade class and essentially went through the coming out process together, say their unique relationship has educated their classmates about gay and lesbian issues. No gay student organization exists at the school, although they describe the climate and teachers as generally supportive.


“Before when we started going out, everybody would look at us, like, ‘What’s wrong with them?’” says Vikky. “But then from 11th grade, everybody started getting comfortable.”


The couple recently became engaged and although same-sex marriage is currently illegal in New York they look forward to the day when they're able to legalize their union in their home state.


Asked what they want to show through their title as “best couple” in their South Bronx high school, Deoine, who describes herself as the more talkative of the two, summarizes their agenda.


“I hope people can see that we’re just people,” she says. “Everybody should have an equal place somewhere, even if it’s in a yearbook or getting married. We all should get the same rights as everybody else. It doesn’t matter who we like, or what we want to do in life.”