Culture

Lesbian student battles over tuxedo

by smkovalinsky | October 19, 2009 at 05:04 pm

174 views | 20 Recommendations | 7 comments

Having written a Now Public Media piece on an all male college which has prohibited cross-dressing, here, and after having an astute NP member pose the question if women might ever be asked in an academic setting to refrain from the same "cross dressing", the answer is here:

A lesbian student’s battle to appear in a tuxedo in her yearbook photo could be headed to court, unless her Mississippi high school responds to a demand from the American Civil Liberties Union before October 23.
The civil rights organization sent a letter to Ronald Greer, principal of Wesson Attendance Center, on behalf of Ceara Sturgis, 17, an out lesbian honor student and athlete whose yearbook photo was rejected by Greer on the grounds that she wore a tuxedo.

ACLU legal director Kristy Bennett calls the principal’s action a violation of the student’s First Amendment rights, according to CBS News.

“Bennett said the teenager's constitutional rights are being violated,” CBS News reported. “Bennett said similar cases, including same-sex prom couples and girls wearing tuxedos to proms, have been successfully challenged in court in other states. ACLU officials said they were unaware of any other constitutional disputes involving gay teens at Mississippi schools.”

A state department of education spokesman told CBS News that there is no policy concerning yearbook photo issues.

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sara star

at 17:10 on October 19th, 2009

It sounds like it is only considered cro-s dressing if it is a man. For a woman it is considered cool!

Who are we to say what a person should wear?

Roy C

at 18:06 on October 19th, 2009

Get out of high school and then rock the boat. Not the right place for this battle. Yes, I think she should be able to wear her tux, but I don't think that she should insist on it.

But I think that the public school system should be dismantled and replaced with charter schools and then we won't have all these stupid fights over the rules.

There can never be "total fairness" in administering to high school kids. Do they have the "right" to wear make-up? Can you require young women to wear a bra? When young men wear make-up, is that ok?

With charter and private schools, you choose the school you want and end all this constant bullmerde over values.

Rory Cripps

at 21:21 on October 19th, 2009

Smk: MINCHIA! Do you know the chick that Ellen is holding? If you do, can you hook me up? I'm really a nice guy and very sincere . . . .

Babel-Fish

at 21:39 on October 19th, 2009

I think really it should be a case of attractiveness a big hairy man in a dress looks like a big hairy man in a dress (ugly). A cute looking chick with a nice rear end in a tuxedo looks hot (sexy)

So there you go lets take a step away from this gay phobic thing and look at my no phobic sentences below.

People should be allowed what the want to, however that could lead to people sniggering and them feeling uncomfortable, so cross dressing comes with a warning that its best to look good when you put on the rags. Remembering the story about the king with no clothes what the feelings on voyeurism and nudes in the street oh of course on campus. Wild absolutely wild damn the bans somebody all ways want to spoil the fun, lol

jefhow22

at 01:53 on October 20th, 2009

I don't think the "suit" makes the person. It's what is in the heart and soul that counts. Halloween is coming...does that mean if we dress like zombies then we must be?

Babel-Fish

at 21:12 on October 20th, 2009

The suit however can make people laugh if people can see your hairy bum, lol People see the suit they certainly can not see whats in your heart or soul unless they know you well.