The commencement speech of an openly gay 18-year-old graduating student of Fairview High School in Ohio, U.S., has become viral in YouTube, with over 50,000 views so far.

What is remarkable about Theodore Chaflen's speech is that it is inspiring minus the clichés that are hallmarks of graduation speeches. He used the occasion to thank schoolmates for their support for him throughout his high school even if he is openly gay.

Mr Chalfen recalled that although he expected to be bullied, ostracised and even be physically abused when he entered high school, he was generally accepted by the student population, but not by all of his schoolmates.

However, the majority of the students accepted him and those who didn't were a small number.

"This incredible kindness is not demonstrated by the full 100 per cent of the student body ... My only hope for those of you who weren't as nice is that you can learn from the examples of your friends and your colleagues and become caring, understanding adults in the future. Because like it or not, we're all in this together, and this generation is never going to accomplish the things I know it to be capable of unless we stop thinking of each other in terms of 'us' and 'them.'"

Here is the full video of his 4-minute applauded speech.