Saturday, April 2, 2011
Illinois Lesbian student Belinda Sanchez wins right to wear tuxedo at high school prom after complaining to the ACLU
Every spring in this country some gay or lesbian wants to make a political point either wanting to attend their prom with their partner or some other variation of this scenario. They’re told no, they can’t do it by the school officials. After that they go crying to the ACLU, and the next thing that happens the school backs down and the gay kid gets what he or she wanted.
That’s the pattern and it happens every Spring somewhere in America.
This year’s episode occurs in Illinois where a lesbian student says she’ll be crushed to the bone if she isn’t allowed to wear a tuxedo to her prom.
Daily Mail reports that when high school student Belinda Sanchez was told that she had to wear a dress to her prom, she was devastated.
It is supposed to be most important night of a senior student's life and wearing the right outfit is a must.
But Miss Sanchez is a lesbian, and wants to wear a tux.
The 18-year-old Proviso East High School student, who hopes one day to become a civil rights attorney, was not ready to take the 'dresses for girls and tuxes for boys' rule sitting down.
She contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois over the situation and on Wednesday, the group sent the school an email backing her decision.
On Thursday, the student got her first taste of victory after she was told she won the right to wear a tuxedo at her upcoming senior prom.
Talking about the first time she was told by Maywood school principle that she could not wear the tux she said: 'I was just shocked.'
Miss Sanchez said she has been open about her sexuality since freshman year and said the school has an active gay-straight alliance very supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Project at ACLU John Knight said: 'This sends a negative message to other students that they can't express who they are.
'It's a First Amendment right, a free speech right, and that includes her right to send a message through wearing male clothing that she doesn't think women should be restricted to traditional female clothing.'
More details here
What will be Ms Sanchez’s next complaint in life? And will the ACLU be there for her again?
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international story
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