I'm sure that very few of you have ever heard of Denair, CA. It's a "census designated place" in Stanislaus County, CA. Not enough of a hint? It's near Turlock. Doesn't help? That's between Modesto and Merced. Central Valley.

Population was 4404 in 2010. The town encloses a grand total of 2 square miles.

It really epitomizes the phrase "small town." Except the part about the government not thinking it is large enough to be called a town.

Denair calls itself "The Oasis of the San Joaquin Valley."

In 2010 Denair had 10 same-sex married couples/domestic partnerships. 22% of the residences were rentals. 32% of the residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. In 2000 16% of the population lived below the poverty line.

As the Wikipedia entry for Stanislaus County says,

Stanislaus County is not a great place, it's just a place in the Central Valley.

Anry Fuentes lives in Denair. She is a transgender teen. When she she told her mother last year that she was going to come out, her mother kicked her out of their home.

Well my mom kicked me out. I’m not mad at her or hate her. I understand where she’s coming from. She was raised differently, and I can’t judge her for that. If I did regret [coming out] then I wouldn’t be this happy. It's much harder to hide than to come out as yourself.

--Anry

Anry tried out for cheerleader as male the year before she came out. She was not selected. She tried out again this year, as an 18-year-old junior, after beginning her transition.

She says the cheerleader coach, Robin Hilton, probably thought she was going to wear the guy uniform, but she asked if there was a problem with her wearing the skirt. The coach told her the only problem was the cost.

[B]ut she received support from the school staff who raised money to help pay for her $600 cheer uniform.

I didn’t think I would get as much support as I’m getting and it feels really nice.

--Anry

The school district’s superintendent says the decision to accept Anry was easy to make.

It’s really a simple, simple decision. All kids are entitled to equal access to public education. When you make the decision to provide that, when these situations come along, its a very easy solution: given equal access.

Gender identity and expression is protected by the law and is given unwavering support in Denair Unified.

--Superintendent Aaron Rosander

I found it really hard to say the words you know...them actually coming out of my mouth, but once they're out, they're out. That's it.

It's so much harder to hide than to come out and be yourself.

Not going to lie - it's hard. I mean, it's a lot of attention and it's not something I was looking for.

it means a lot. I feel respected. I chose to wear the skirts for myself and I love wearing the uniform. I wanted to feel good about myself.

--Anry

I first came out as gay my freshman year because that’s what I thought I was, but I didn’t feel like a boy who liked other boys. I felt like a girl who liked boys.

I knew that I wanted to be a girl.

It’s a lot of work and it’s stressful because I’m not even on anything to actually be transitioning. I have plans to start as soon as I find a job and get out of high school because transitioning will be a big part of my life.

--Anry

Of the coach and her fellow cheerleaders, Anry has nothing but praise

I love them so much. I’ve never felt pushed away or that they don’t want me there. I’ve never felt like that. They’re making an effort and being really supportive.

--Fuentes

Anry still encounters people who do not accept her as a female. She ignores them.

A lot of people have been telling me that I’m pretty strong for letting that go by because anybody would blow up, but I can’t because I’m not going to force it upon them. If that’s how they feel, then I can’t change their opinion.

--Anry

She just keeps smiling.

I’m not sugarcoating it, it was tough. But my life is given to me once and I’m going to make the most of it. Everybody goes through that stage where they think ‘I’m never going to get out of this.’

“No—you are going to get out of it. I am living proof. I didn’t give up.

--Anry Fuentes