Comments on: Lesbian student in Miss. fights for tuxedo photo

By: Cameron

Cameron — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:00:31 +0000

I think this is a very important instance of a made community- one where the ACLU and this woman’s family are rallying for her defense. It’s these created communities- the ones that grow around a shared sense of purpose that are going to get these grassroots efforts legitimized. I applaud Veronica Rodriguez’s support of her daughter, and Ceara’s refusal to acquiesce to her school’s antiquated views on gender roles. I hope that she is allowed the picture she knows represents her best, and I hope this gives others the courage to stand up in their own fights for equality and fair representation.

By: Hannah Elizabeth Graham

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:39:26 +0000

Fuck their “quiet” way of life! You really can’t stop ONE person from being who they are just because a few people are uncomfortable! People need to realize that they can’t just write off a persons personal choices because its unethical, not in the bible, not “right”, JUST NOT WHAT THEY ARE USED TO!!!! I say get used to it real quick or just stay fuckin upset about it… Couse a change is coming.

By: mr_38

mr_38 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:20:05 +0000

Omg, these so called teachers in the school system need to stop interfering whit the U.S Constitution i.e. the freedom of speech, freedom of expression or freedom of thought.

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship or limitation, freedom of expression is to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used, freedom of thought is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, independent of others’ viewpoints.

People need to learn that they can’t be doing this, if the need to go to court then they need to do it.

By: Richard Say

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:52:26 +0000

for crying out loud……it’s just a damn picture…….who cares what she is wearing…..let her wear the tux…..

By: Jake R

Jake R — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:14:44 +0000

More and more I’ve discovered that people are so unwilling to revise tradition because for some reason (lack of open-mindedness? unconscious bigotry?) they cannot see how certain traditions are unequal or excluding of certain groups.

I’ve noticed this recently at my own university, where the student government association voted down proposed legislation to allow same-sex couples to run for homecoming (here couples run for king and queen, prince and princess, duke and duchess, and lord and lady). And they’re not interested in reconsidering the legislation even after a protest that interrupted their meeting. They just say that homecoming is equal because a guy who is gay can run for king or a girl who is gay can run for queen. (But the other way around is not acceptable.) It’s still one man and one woman pairs but to them, there’s complete equality.

Both that request to be more representative of the LGBT community and this request for a girl to appear in her yearbook (a place for her and her classmates’ memories) in a tux do not hurt anyone by being accepted. They only give non-heteronormative images a little more exposure, which should only be worrying homophobics.

http://gladuntblog.blogspot.com/

By: jessieka

jessieka — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:13:17 +0000

ok this young woman played sports for the glory of the school did they complain she wasn’t “lady like enough” then?Funny how when it benifited them she was great but when it came to honoring this great student athleat she is disrespected.
at least the aclu is good for something besides defending those who harrass & torment us!

By: Scott Taber

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:30:37 +0000

It’s great to see that she has the support of her family in dealing with this issue.
She should consider starting something where all the girls wear a tux. Maybe even guys wearing a dress. Its not like she is trying to offend or dress outside of the context of the event. Her principal / school administration needs to grow up.

By: Drewski

Drewski — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:17:22 +0000

I’m glad the principal is burning his on-the-clock time on a girl wearing a tux, as opposed to…oh, I dunno…DOING HIS JOB. Especially in a state with the worst school funding in the country. Ceara Sturgis has already shown herself to be above average, and it says something that her classmates don’t have an issue with her wearing a tux. It doesn’t seem to occur to the principal that he’s undermining the authority of his position with such a petty squabble.

By: MavsFan

MavsFan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:27:50 +0000

So, if tux’s are for “boys” and drapes are for “girls”, then what is the school’s policy on intersexed children? I mean they are apparently so concerned with the student’s genitalia matching their wardrobe. Oh, and I knew girls at my school who wore tux’s to the prom. Personally I think androgyny is beautiful. Something so sexy about a woman in a nice crisp tux!

By: Bonnie Brill

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:24:57 +0000

It is wonderful that the mother is supportive of her daughter because that’s just the right thing to do.

It is just ridiculous that in this day and age this is still an issue. As for a woman in a tux, works for me!

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!