A transgender student at Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy in Texas received an 18th birthday surprise from fellow students who raised the money he needed to legally change his name.
“They’ve been planning it for a month and I’m surprised none of them slipped up or even hinted at it happening,” the young man (identified only as Andrew) told Pink News. “All my teachers and fellow students have been so supportive of me ever since I came out,” he added.
“Since you’re a legal adult, we raised enough money for you to change your name,” a fellow student told Andrew, according to Pink News. His friends capped their gift by singing Happy Birthday.
A TikTok video of Andrew receiving his gift has gone viral, receiving wide-spread support after it was shared on Twitter.
A name change in Texas requires a petition to the court and the fee can vary depending where the applicant lives. For a gender change you must bring an original certified court order or an amended birth certificate verifying the change.
