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SHS senior Brett Sheldon receives LGBTQ+ honors from State of Mass.
Somerville High School senior Brett Sheldon has been selected as one of just ten students statewide to receive the 2026 Jeff Perrotti LGBTQ+ Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.
The prestigious honor, named for the founding director of the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students at the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in fostering school communities where LGBTQ+ students are not only accepted, but fully supported and embraced.
In a communication from the Commission, Sheldon was recognized for his “commitment to creating more just, inclusive, and affirming schools and communities.” He received the award at a May 28 ceremony at the Massachusetts State House in Boston, at which Sheldon was also a keynote speaker.
“(This award) makes me feel like my work is being seen and heard,” Sheldon said prior to the ceremony. “It makes me have a much better idea of the influence I have and the difference I’m making.”
In addition to his work with the Commission as well as the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at Somerville High School, Sheldon has encouraged thoughtful dialogue at the school and points to a senior capstone project that further affirmed his dedication to trans-related activism.
“I interviewed seven people of trans experience and took notable quotes from each interview and put them into a book,” he said. “I tried to make sure these people all came from varying and diverse experiences. Not only was this something that other students could read and learn from, but I also learned a lot from the project myself as well as getting much closer to all of the people I interviewed.”
High school instructor Alex Rivero is among Sheldon’s admirers and strongest supporters. “It's hard being a trans person in this world,” Rivero said. “But I think, overall, he’s had a very positive experience being trans and with his trans identity, and I think he wanted to give that to other people or help other people to have those experiences.”
In addition to the recognition, Sheldon will receive a $4,000 scholarship to support future studies at an accredited institution. Sheldon plans to continue advocacy and social justice work while attending Union College, where he plans to major in Political Science. He also hopes to focus on broader social justice issues and is considering a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. For more information on the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, visit the commission’s website.
Staff photo.