Kentucky student goes off script in viral graduation speech

posted by Kristi Wachter on June 22, 2026

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May 26, 2026

"This school is f***ing ridiculous,” Daniel Mattingly said as he concluded his speech at Stuart Academy in Louisville.

Excerpt

A Kentucky student denounced homophobia and racism during a speech at his 8th-grade graduation. The words rapidly went viral as he left behind the campus he called an oppressive environment.

“Apparently, this school doesn’t know better than to give an angry gay kid a microphone,” Daniel Mattingly said in a short speech at Stuart Academy in Louisville.

Links

Kentucky student goes off script in viral graduation speech

Source

Advocate.com

Author

Jacob Ogles

Resistance is

speaking out

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