Principal Says Gay Student Can't Wear Tuxedo to Prom

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BetwixtBetween
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05 Apr 2015, 4:24 pm

Principal Says Gay Student Can't Wear Tuxedo to Prom
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/prin ... m-30101857
She wants to show up, fully clothed, in formal-wear, which is more than can be said for many other prom goers. As for the gender connection to the tuxedo, it is typically worn by men, but it has also been worn by Judy Garland, Katherine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Shirley Temple, and many modern celeb women of every orientation.

I could understand if she planned to show up in a teddy bear costume and the school thought that was a bad idea. I could understand if the school had a problem with her showing up in an ultra-mini. I could understand if this was about gang colors or one of those ghosty KKK things.

But it's a tuxedo.

That's just dumb.



Magneto
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06 Apr 2015, 2:49 pm

Well, if they have a dress code and it's violating it, it's as dumb as telling her she can't turn up in a onesie. If their dress code is says that men wear tuxedos and women wear gowns, and she is claiming to be a woman...



BetwixtBetween
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06 Apr 2015, 4:07 pm

Quote:
" Monroe City School Board President Rodney McFarland disagreed.

"Banning her from her prom just because of what she wants to wear — that's discrimination," he said. "As far as I know there is no Monroe City School Board policy saying what someone has to wear to attend the prom. You can't just go making up policies."


Quoted from the story. So, no. It does not appear to be policy at all. Just a school principal making a really bad call.



auntblabby
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09 Apr 2015, 2:12 am

to hell with stupid dress codes. why can't people just mind their own business?



halleluhwah
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09 Apr 2015, 2:33 am

Magneto wrote:
Well, if they have a dress code and it's violating it, it's as dumb as telling her she can't turn up in a onesie. If their dress code is says that men wear tuxedos and women wear gowns, and she is claiming to be a woman...

If a school has a dress code that enforces rigid gender roles or any such BS, then that's something that should be challenged. Obviously something isn't wrong or right because somebody made it a formal rule. Homophobia and genderphobia are still not okay. And I'm not sure what you mean by "claiming to be a woman" (seems like confrontational and offensive wording), but something tells me that if they're not letting a cis lesbian woman wear a tux, they're not gonna feel much differently about a trans man.

That being said, BetwixtBetween showed that this isn't the case.



Magneto
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09 Apr 2015, 6:34 am

So, it would have been okay for her to turn up in a onesie? :?

If you're going to have a dress code at all - which you ought to, for a prom - then there is nothing wrong with having one for the guys (all guys, not just cisgendered ones) and one for the women (again, *all* women).

Or, to lay it out in a way people should be able to understand:

1. The prom requires formalwear.
2. Formalwear for women in this case does not include a tuxedo.
3. She identifies as a woman.
4. Therefore, she should not wear a tuxedo.

If (1) or (2) is false (or indeed (3), but that doesn't seem to be the case), then there is no problem with her wearing a tuxedo.



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09 Apr 2015, 8:22 am

@Magneto:

The crux of the matter is whether or not a gender-specific dress code has previously been established that dictates whether or not women may wear tuxedos to the prom.

If so, then the woman is at the disadvantage, in that she could either (1) flout the dress code and show up wearing a tux; (2) follow the dress code and show up wearing something other than a tux; (3) hire a lawyer and fight the dress code in court; or (4) just stay home.

But if there was no such stated dress code for promwear, then she is clearly being discriminated against, and may even have a civil case that will stand up in court.

I hope she wins.



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09 Apr 2015, 3:17 pm

auntblabby wrote:
to hell with stupid dress codes. why can't people just mind their own business?


EXACTLY! :x

Which is worse, states allowing gun safety in schools or school authority picking on LGBT students? :evil:


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09 Apr 2015, 4:10 pm

Magneto wrote:
So, it would have been okay for her to turn up in a onesie? :?

If you're going to have a dress code at all - which you ought to, for a prom - then there is nothing wrong with having one for the guys (all guys, not just cisgendered ones) and one for the women (again, *all* women).

Or, to lay it out in a way people should be able to understand:

1. The prom requires formalwear.
2. Formalwear for women in this case does not include a tuxedo.
3. She identifies as a woman.
4. Therefore, she should not wear a tuxedo.

TheIf (1) or (2) is false (or indeed (3), but that doesn't seem to be the case), then there is no problem with her wearing a tuxedo.


*facepalm* First of all,there is no such thing as two absoulute, opposite, genders. A persons gender identity can be a thousend different options. "Man" and "woman" are illogical, social constructs. Second, that a person identifies as female means nothing, she can still be uncomfortable with typical "feminine" clothing. Many young female persons, especially in the lgbt-community, are "tomboys" and very uncomfortable in dresses. So this young person should be allowed to wear whatever formalwear she wants.



halleluhwah
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09 Apr 2015, 7:14 pm

Heidi80 wrote:
Magneto wrote:
So, it would have been okay for her to turn up in a onesie? :?

If you're going to have a dress code at all - which you ought to, for a prom - then there is nothing wrong with having one for the guys (all guys, not just cisgendered ones) and one for the women (again, *all* women).

Or, to lay it out in a way people should be able to understand:

1. The prom requires formalwear.
2. Formalwear for women in this case does not include a tuxedo.
3. She identifies as a woman.
4. Therefore, she should not wear a tuxedo.

TheIf (1) or (2) is false (or indeed (3), but that doesn't seem to be the case), then there is no problem with her wearing a tuxedo.


*facepalm* First of all,there is no such thing as two absoulute, opposite, genders. A persons gender identity can be a thousend different options. "Man" and "woman" are illogical, social constructs. Second, that a person identifies as female means nothing, she can still be uncomfortable with typical "feminine" clothing. Many young female persons, especially in the lgbt-community, are "tomboys" and very uncomfortable in dresses. So this young person should be allowed to wear whatever formalwear she wants.


Thank you! Frankly, myself, I couldn't care less if this woman showed up in a onesie, or nude for that matter. However, prohibiting either of those would not involve the same sort of oppressive insistence on conventional binary gender identities and norms.



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09 Apr 2015, 7:18 pm

I have no idea why they would be objecting in the first place . As long as it is decent looking clothes, who is to be concerned with the gender of the one wearing it.



auntblabby
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09 Apr 2015, 7:30 pm

the dominant mindset on the part of the school administration, is to rudely shove a square peg through a round hole.



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10 Apr 2015, 12:02 am

AnonymousAnonymous wrote:
Which is worse, states allowing gun safety in schools or school authority picking on LGBT students? :evil:


i don't either think gun safety belongs in elementary schools (referring to missouri?) and it's more of the parents/family's responsibility to instill those skills. though at least, the gun safety thing is more clear cut since even if you or parents don't want to be a part of that, they know where it's being taught and can easily opt out, but when you're a new student and know all the programs, but not the staff, you don't know who might be picking on you behind your back, or who will be more direct, for being LGBT...until you report it which is often easier said than done, and process is different from district to district. :?

auntblabby wrote:
to hell with stupid dress codes. why can't people just mind their own business?


banning a student from wearing a tuxedo for that reason is really dumb, like editing yearbook pictures (even if that is easier than refusing to take the picture until the student comes back wearing something else). my school dress code technically does ban hats in class and "shorts shorter than mid-thigh"...but i see both every day and i wonder just how much do they care? i haven't witnessed an actual citation since 7th grade. i think hats were banned because people could hide stuff in it, but i wear a beanie every single day, noone bats an eye, again. it was more enforced in jr high but that was technically the same district. i remember one time a teacher of mine said "and bring the rest of your shorts!" to a student, probably not in earshot, that was excused to the bathroom. may have been a dress code enforcement but that wording could be construed as harassment...especially after mentioning something about 'booty hanging out'.


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11 Apr 2015, 5:28 am

According to the school board president, there is no dress code for prom. Case closed. All the girls should show up in flannel pyjamas, and the boys should arrive dressed as members of the Furry Fandom. Clearly. :lol:



Magneto
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11 Apr 2015, 10:34 am

Well, if there really is no dress code...



auntblabby
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11 Apr 2015, 2:46 pm

Magneto wrote:
Well, if there really is no dress code...

the principal is just letting his bigotry show in public, and being a hypocrite about it.