The school board of Suffolk in southeastern Virginia is considering a ban on students cross-dressing in order to minimize "safety risks, disruptions and distractions." The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has already sent a letter to the school district informing it that such a dress code is "unlawful and unfair to students" and that the district should not be banning "nonconforming behavior" but addressing the issues of bullying or harassment.
The proposal specifically bans “clothing worn by a student that is not in keeping with a student’s gender and causes a disruption and/or distracts others from the educational process or poses a health or safety concern.”
The killing of 15-year-old Lawrence King by another student -- King occasionally wore jewelry, high-heeled boots and makeup to school -- has been ruled a hate crime. The Suffolk School District is doing exactly the wrong thing by creating a ban; it is sending a message that it is ok to bully students who cross-dress and who are different. Is this really what the Suffolk School District wants to teach its students?
We, the undersigned, ask that the Suffolk School District not ban cross-dressing by students.
The Suffolk School District is considering a
ban on students cross-dressing in order to minimize "safety risks, disruptions and distractions." The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has already sent a letter to the school district informing it that such a dress code is "unlawful and unfair to students" and that the district should not be banning "nonconforming behavior" but addressing the issues of bullying or harassment.
The proposal specifically bans “clothing worn by a student that is not in keeping with a student’s gender and causes a disruption and/or distracts others from the educational process or poses a health or safety concern.”
The killing of 15-year-old Lawrence King by another student -- King occasionally wore jewelry, high-heeled boots and makeup to school -- has been ruled a hate crime. The Suffolk School District is doing exactly the wrong thing by creating a ban; it is sending a message that it is ok to bully students who cross-dress and who are different. Is this really what the Suffolk School District wants to teach its students?
