Girl's yearbook photo pulled over tuxedo

[GirlinContempt]

Forgive me if this has already been posted, I did a quick search and didn't find anything.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/10/15/Girls-yearbook-photo-pulled-over-tuxedo/UPI-94381255638691/

WESSON, Miss., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A Mississippi high school student says she is fighting to get her picture in the yearbook after officials rejected it because she wore a tuxedo.

Ceara Sturgis of Wesson, a senior at Wesson Attendance Center, said officials rejected her senior portrait because she chose to wear a tuxedo for the picture instead of traditional feminine clothing, WLBT-TV, Jackson, Miss., reported Thursday.

"It makes me feel I'm not important enough. Like just because I'm wearing a tux I can't be in my senior yearbook. It's like I never even went there. That's my yearbook. This is my senior year and I'm not gonna be able to be in there because I'm wearing a tux. I don't think it matters what we're wearing" said Sturgis, who is openly gay. (emphasis added by me)

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/10/15/Girls-yearbook-photo-pulled-over-tuxedo/UPI-94381255638691/

How much do you want to bet that this has more to do with her being gay than it does with what she's wearing? That's crazy! My MOTHER owns a female tuxedo, ffs. Ugh, that poor girl.

[Lerkfish]

1. how stupid.

you know, we should be beyond this crap by now.

when are we going to grow up as a society?

[tammywammy]

2. This is just so stupid

Put her freaking picture in it. It's not like she's wearing anything indecent. I was editor-in-chief of my senior yearbook, we never had this "issue" come up, but still I cannot imagine anyone on the yearbook staff or our advisor getting a picture of a woman in a tux pulled.

There just probably would have been an uproar by the bigot/anti-gay pastors etc after it was published.

[GirlinContempt]

11. Yeah, I can't imagine anything like that

happening anywhere I went to school.

[Posteritatis]

32. Some yearbook staff can be impressively stupid

I graduated from high school the year Columbine happened. Because I was part of the odd crowd at our school, neither I nor any of my friends were permitted to write our own yearbook entries. Instead, they were written for us by the yearbook staff, with any references to our connections to one another (or ourselves as individuals) carefully kept out.

[tammywammy]

39. Morons

We were very professional and the book wasn't full of just pics of 20 so people on every page. I know the year or two after I graduated they won Time's High School Yearbook of the year.

The only thing we did with the seniors photos was we got about 5 or 6 shots of each senior and we'd choose their best photo for the page.

[sakabatou]

3. *facebludgeon*

[Jokerman]

4. Small minded fools.

My sister wore a tux as an usher in my wedding twenty years ago and she looked great.

These "educators" need to concentrate on education and quit trying force their conformist bullshit.

[GirlinContempt]

12. AGREED! They should be educating their students

not scanning yearbook photos for what they personally consider 'wrong' somehow. And I do think it's not about it the tux, it's because she's gay. We'll never know if a straight girl could have done the same thing, but I doubt they would have thought nearly so much about it.

[beam me up scottie]

63. If a straight girl with make up and long hair wore a tux it would be considered cute/sexy.

Damn right it's because she's gay. It's too bad the rest of the students don't care enough to make a stink, they could probably get the principal to cave.

[GirlinContempt]

66. There's info downthread for emailing the principal

If you, or anyone else is interested in doing so.

[beam me up scottie]

67. On it.

Thank you for posting this, I always thought that by now things would be so much better for kids who are different. It takes a lot of courage to buck the trend in high school, I hope she never regrets it.

[thunder rising]

5. Calling Rachel Maddow.

[wordpix]

35. +1

[MrScorpio]

6. It was sucky of them to drop her. She should wear what she wants to wear

However, very few people are NOT embarrassed by their yearbook pictures twenty years after the fact.

But, that's quite another matter altogether.

[Curtland1015]

7. I'm amazed ANYONE is wearing a TUX for their senoir portrait. I just wore a t-shirt.

Pants too...

Point is, no one cared. What a bunch of asshats the people that run that school are.

[LibDemAlways]

26. The tux is a mock up, and at my daughter's school

all the boys are photographed wearing the same thing. Girls wear the same off the shoulder black sweater. They probably have a few sizes available, but they are all identical. Nothing like reinforcing the idea that conformity matters.

[Gormy Cuss]

53. Where in the world is this normal?

We wore just about anything we wanted to wear for our senior pictures... as I recall both genders were encouraged to wear shirts or blouses rather than tees, but if you showed up with a printable photo that was enough. The photos were cropped to the top of the shoulders -- it's as if the clothing mattered at all.

I agree completely -- nothing like reinforcing conformity.

[TicketyBoo]

60. They still do that?

When they did my senior pictures (back in the olden days), they had a black v-shaped necked "drape" they used on all the girls. I guess it made sure that nobody stood out because of what she was wearing. How rich you were didn't matter, because everybody got the same drape.

Now senior pictures cost upwards of $500 here if done by a studio (and that's the way most are done). The kids get to wear whatever they choose. Wow.

[GirlinContempt]

65. From what I gather

boys got tuxes and girls got drapes. She decided to go for the tux.

[LibDemAlways]

68. "They still do that?"Yep. And in Southern California

where all the girls are super skinny and have the same length hair, they all look alike. The only way they can express their individuality is in the quote they choose that goes under the photo. It's suppose to reflect their personal philosophy. Ironically, Thoreau's quote about marching to a different drummer is the one most frequently used. LOL

[TicketyBoo]

70. Well, I guess it's okay

to march to a different drummer, you just can't sit for a portrait to one. :)

[Captain Hilts]

8. I NEVER understood the half nekkid off-shoulder ensembles girls were forced to pose in as seniors.

I woulda done the same thing if we'd had to do that. Thankfully, we were not.

Besides, EVERYBODY looks good in black tie!

[GirlinContempt]

13. hah very true

really, whats the big difference between a tux and a white shirt and black female blazer with a tie? As someone who's worked in formal wear, I know there *is* but really, I've seen girls wearing white shirts, black jackets and sometimes even ties. big. deal.

As I said, my own mother has a female tuxedo. She used to wear it quite a bit, not so much anymore.

[Captain Hilts]

22. My mother had something like that, too. She looked great. nt

[WolverineDG]

31. our half nekkid off the shoulder choice was made of feathers

no shit....at least we had a choice of pink or blue. :eyes:

not one girl chose that photo for her senior picture in the yearbook.....we all chose the one where we were wearing our regular dress-up clothes.

dg

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. wish we could see pic

[GirlinContempt]

Me too

[GirlinContempt]

19. Found a story with pics

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=11309848

To be honest, I like this one of her better http://cmsimg.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=D0&Date=20091017&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=91017005&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=180&Border=0

[Liberal_in_LA]

54. Nothing wrong with the pic

[GirlinContempt]

55. No no, I didn't mean anything was wrong with it

I just happen to like that pic of her better *shrug* Then again I usually prefer more natural pictures to posed shots.


Edit: Did you watch the video at that link? She's cute :)

[Liberal_in_LA]

57. i meant "nothing wrong with pic" that it should be kept out of yearbook

[GirlinContempt]

58. Ahhh yeah, ok

:) Sorry.

No way should it be kept out of the yearbook. This is pure insanity.

[patrice]

10. Is that like libel or something? "This girl may not be in our yearbook, because_______________."

I mean, how DO they get away with something like that? All other factors being equal, doesn't exclusion imply somekind of judgement?

[GirlinContempt]

16. Def. not libel.

But it is discrimination, if as I believe it's truly about her being gay.

[patrice]

37. I was trying to imagine if the principal says something like "It's not discrimination, because we

allow pictures of other known Gay students in our yearbook", what's the come back? Libel?

If you can't establish that it is discrimination, because there are other Gays in the yearbook, then the question is what exactly IS the reason. The principal can't say "No picture because of the tuxedo" - that simply wouldn't work, because it is so completely silly, so it has to be something about her personally that is so horrendous that it justifys no picture and I'm wondering if that implication is Libel.

[wordpix]

29. it's not libel, it's DISCRIMINATION. I'd threaten a civil rights suit

That ought to get the stupid principal to change his mind.

[GirlinContempt]

73. The ACLU has taken up this girls case

There's info down thread for contacting the principal of the school if you or anyone else is interested.

[eShirl]

14. Next women will want to be wearing trousers.

And not riding side-saddle.

[GirlinContempt]

15. Nevermind trousers, they'll be wearing less than three petticoats!

HORRORS

[eShirl]

17. eeeek!

[WolverineDG]

33. even worse

no bra!!

:o

dg

[EFerrari]

21. And everyone knows what that leads to.

[wordpix]

30. female orgasms, right?

[Bucky]

18. If she was straight an just kind of artsy fartsy, they'd probably have allowed it.

She was singled out for her orientation. What assholes.

[GirlinContempt]

74. There's info down thread for contacting the principal of the school

if you or anyone else is interested. :) I wish I had found it when I could still edit. I want to try and make sure that everyone who is so inclined knows about it, so please forgive me for posting this a few times in the thread :)

[GirlinContempt]

20. EDITING PERIOD EXPIRED: MORE IN DEPTH STORY AND PICTURE

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=11309848
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20091017/NEWS/91017005/1001/news

ACLU is involved: http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11321336
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11328771

[GirlinContempt]

75. LINK TO CONTACT PRINCIPAL WHO MADE DECISION

http://www2.mde.k12.ms.us/1500/WAC/admin.htm

Contact Mr. Ronald Greer, Attendance Center Principal

[Cleita]

23. When I went on a cruise, there was a lesbian couple assigned to our dinner

table. We were expected to dress in formal dress a couple of the nights. One of the girls of the couple wore a tuxedo. The cruise lines have a photographer running around taking pictures of everyone. He didn't want to take a picture of the girls because he said one wasn't appropriately dressed. The rest of us at the table booed him and he relented and took pictures of them the rest of the cruise without a whimper. Incidentally, my formal was a pant dress, which I am more comfortable in at my age. Although it's more feminine, it still isn't a dress. Cloth is cloth. Who has a right to determine what form it takes or who wears it, other than something like a military uniform.

[Cleita]

24. Dupe.

Sorry.

[LibDemAlways]

25. My daughter's high school gives the girls an off the shoulder

black sweater to wear. They all look like clones. Last year one girl did wear the mock tux that they generally photograph the boys in. No one made an issue of it.

Frankly, I think forcing conformity on the kids in these pictures is ridiculous. Why not set a few general guidelines with plenty of room for individual interpretation and let it go at that.

[proteus_lives]

27. That's stupid, let her wear the tux.

[WolverineDG]

28. twenty years from now, who's going to care what she wore?

Jeezus...some people don't know which battles to pick.... :eyes:

dg

[wordpix]

34. who the hell cares now, except for some stupids in Mississippi?

:crazy:

[WolverineDG]

36. well that comment was aimed more

at those freaks getting the vapors over it right now....they obviously suffer from perspective-impairment....

:crazy:

dg

[Odin2005]

38. It is homophobic AND misogynistic.

Somebody tell me why women have to wear "traditional female clothing"? :eyes:

I mean seriously, WHO GIVES A SHIT?

[Lerkfish]

40. and, whose "tradition"?

what about burkhas, sarongs, etc.?

[GirlinContempt]

41. Apparently, this principal really really gives a shit

Who knows why

[Odin2005]

42. Maybe it's just my Asperger's Syndrome talking, but I serious don't get gender clothing conventions.

It's all arbitrary crap. I don't get the big deal but it seems like other people think such cultural norms are part of the "natural order of things" and it is a crime against nature for a woman to wear a tux. :eyes:

Seriously, WHO CARES?

[eppur_se_muova]

43. Cross-gender wardrobe? Oh, horrors!

Won't someone please think of the children* ?
















*Gay children not included. Violations subject to oppressive asshattery.

[Ilsa]

44. She should have said "it's a white shirt & black jacket. What's the problem?" nt

[TicketyBoo]

62. What if

she'd worn a black skirt with the tuxedo jacket, white shirt and tie?

Same photo, but I'll bet there'd have been NO controversy. Sometimes you have to sucker-punch 'em with smarts.

[Initech]

45. Man there are some seriously stupid people in this country.

[burning rain]

46. Ah, Mississippi.

They still got some segregated proms there, too?

[arthritisR_US]

47. why is it that small narrow minded people get positions of authority, unbelievable. n/t

[GirlinContempt]

49. I have no idea

[lib2DaBone]

48. No Doubt more Right Wing Bible-Beater Bullshit...leave the kids alone..

[Texasgal]

50. Funny

In 1987 I wore a tuxedo to my prom. I am straight.... My Mom REFUSED to take pictures of me! LOL!!!

How dumb... Nobody said shit to me except my parents!!!

[GirlinContempt]

51. Your MOTHER refused?

That's harsh. Wow.

[Texasgal]

71. Yup... she wanted her daughter in a dress..

whatever.. I was so anti-establishment I didn't care... we laugh about it now!

[donheld]

52. What's the matter with these idiots?

Rhetorical question.

[Hannah Bell]

56. wtf kind of school is "Wesson Attendance Center"? Salad oil study hall?

i bet it's either a charter or a "non-traditional".

[GirlinContempt]

59. All I can find is that it's a public school: INFO FOR EMAILING PRINCIPAL IN THIS POST

They have a website though

http://www2.mde.k12.ms.us/1500/WAC/wac.htm

Well, I think calling it a website is being charitable :P

If anyone wants to email the Principal, who is responsible for this decision, you can do so here: http://www2.mde.k12.ms.us/1500/WAC/admin.htm You want Greer, the first link.

This site hasn't been updated since 2004.

haha I keep coming back and editing this post... I went through all their links and I find it REALLY interesting that when you go to the link for Wesson Attendance Center Safe and Drug Free Schools Helpful Links section, the second link (first that WORKS, but second in list) is a Christian site full of religious advice. http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=76948 Is that something that a public school should be doing?

[Hannah Bell]

61. no, it's not something that should appear on a public school's website.

but then, neither is this brouhaha. She looks cute in the tux, & it's just a headshot anyway. Girls wear menswear all the time. Stupid waste of time & money.

[GirlinContempt]

64. I'll admit the little I read on the site itself

seemed pretty reasonable, though there was a lot of God in it which I personally don't believe in. It didn't seem super fundy excatly, not that I went that in-depth. But that isn't really the point, is it? If it's a public school, publicly funded, they shouldn't be using religious resources to educate their stupids and parents. There isn't even a reason to use those, there are tons that have nothing to say about RELIGION and everything to say about drugs. Anyway, it was just an observation I made...

This whole thing seems so silly. I don't get why the Principal thinks this is such a big deal. Principals shouldn't be allowed to make decisions like that anyway, I don't think. If an issue like this arises, let the board handle it if there is no pre-set policy.

[Hepburn]

69. I think tuxedos are very cool ~~ on men or on women.

The school has its collective head up its ass looking for daylight.


Just ask her...

[GirlinContempt]

72. marlene dietrich, SO SEXY