Girl sues for right to wear tux to prom

[IndianaGreen]

Girl sues for right to wear tux to prom

Posted: March 11, 2009 11:20 PM EDT

Updated: March 11, 2009 11:50 PM EDT

Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News

Lebanon - A 17-year-old gay female student at Lebanon High School is challenging the school's prom dress code. The teenager has filed suit after she was told by the principal that she couldn't wear a tuxedo to the April prom.

Home video of last year's Lebanon High School prom shows a big, formal affair. But the prom this year is embroiled in a lawsuit after a 17-year-old student was denied the right to wear a tuxedo. The student was told by the principal that there's a longstanding policy: Men wear tuxedos and women wear formal dresses. The student, whose name isn't revealed in the suit, enlisted the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana which has asked a federal court to issue and injunction requiring the school to let her wear a tux to the prom.

"She wants to make a statement by her dress. She's not being allowed to make that statement. Plus, the rule itself is obviously gender-based and there's no rationale for it," said Ken Falk, ACLU Indiana.

The lawsuit argues that the school district's policy violates the stipulations in the Constitution that the government treat a female student the same as a male and not limit students' freedom of expression.

The district's attorney says that the school won't deny a students protected right to freedom of expression, but questions if a tuxedo is a form of expression.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?s=9991508

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. It's stuff like this that makes me shake my head and feel ashamed to be a "hoosier"

WTF should it make a difference what she wants to wear? And how is doing so sending a "destructive message"?
It's amazing what wingnuts spend their time fighting against.
:crazy:

[Downwinder]

2. Don't the Radio City Rocketts wear top hat and tails?

Thats most of a tux.