A student at a public high school in Copiah County, Miss. is fighting back after being excluded from her high school yearbook for wearing men's clothing in her class photo.On openly lesbian student at Wesson Attendance Center's high school in Wesson, Miss., Ceara Sturgis (no relation to this writer) does not own any girls' clothing and chose to have her senior class picture taken wearing a tuxedo, WLBT reports. Because of that, the school has informed her that the photo will not be included in the yearbook.
"It makes me feel like I'm not important enough," Sturgis told WLBT reporter Katina Rankin. "It's like I never even went there."
WLBT reports that the Copiah County schools do not have an official policy on yearbook photos, with the decision on whether to exclude any left up to individual school officials. However, the Wesson Attendance Center does have a nondiscrimination policy that includes sex as well as race.
Ronald Greer, the principal of the Wesson Attendance Center, declined to comment to WLBT on his decision to exclude Sturgis.
The TV station obtained a copy of Wesson's 2008 yearbook that featured photos of something called the "Backwards Beauty and Beau Pageant," which involves students dressing as members of the other sex in jest.
Sturgis's mother has hired an attorney. WLBT also reports that the American Civil Liberties Union is getting involved in the case.
(Still photo of Ceara Sturgis in her tux from WLBT video.)
I'm a transgendered man (ftm) living in Copiah county, and I think Ronald Greer should be deeply ashamed of himself for this. It's so incredibly petty and needlessly cruel! It's time to end the discrimination against LGBTQ students. Ceara should be commended for having the courage of conviction to be herself, and Ms. Sturgis, Kudos to you for showing such support for your child. I hope you win!
October 14, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply
Fifty years ago this would have been about race. Let's hope it isn't 50 years before everyone looks at this sort of thing and wonders what idiotic ideas these people had.
October 15, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply
The schools need to realize that students have free speech rights which includes the freedom of expression. When a student is being discriminated against because of their sexuality, the school could very possibly be violating the student's constitutional rights even if the conduct is against the school's policy. Similar situations involving gay students wearing either a tux or a prom dress to their prom have come up numerous times in various states. For more on this issue, see http://askthejudge.info/prom-dresses-and-tuxedos-whats-all-the-fuss-about/233/#more-233
October 15, 2009 9:04 PM | Reply
I'm sorry that the people of this small Southern town have to put up with a troublemaker like this. Once again, folks like her (and you can take that ANY WAY YOU WANT TO, I DON'T CARE) just want to cause a stink, so they can thumb their nose at regular folks and tradition. She should move to San Francisco, but wouldn't really stand out there, or get any attention. Which is all she really wants anyway, to cause trouble. God help this country, we really need it.
October 16, 2009 4:57 AM | Reply
This story made http://detentionslip.org ! Check it out for all the crazy headlines from our schools.
October 16, 2009 8:46 AM | Reply
"I'm sorry that the people of this small Southern town have to put up with a troublemaker like this. Once again, folks like her (and you can take that ANY WAY YOU WANT TO, I DON'T CARE) just want to cause a stink, so they can thumb their nose at regular folks and tradition. She should move to San Francisco, but wouldn't really stand out there, or get any attention. Which is all she really wants anyway, to cause trouble. God help this country, we really need it."
You're pretty stupid aren't you?
October 16, 2009 10:51 AM | Reply
oh..your such a "heartland patriot"arent you? christian values also im sure.
October 16, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply
Yeah Patriot. She should just fall in line. Gays should be straight, black people should be white, and Muslims should be Christians. Admit it at least to yourself that this is really what you want when you say you want this to be "traditional." YOU "FOLKS" have a especially acidic brand of religious zionism that would drive God himself to atheism. And by the way, if Christians truly stuck to traditional biblical culture they'd be marrying their nieces and nephews rather than just leaving the child abuse to the priests. Society moves forward constantly. Every sect of the christian church but catholic arose from the shoulders of one called a heretic at the time. Marriage predates Christianity by over ten thousand of years. But I guess the argument is already lost in referring to earth as not being spontaneous manifested "as is" and is less than a millionth of the age that all evidence dictates. The quest for tradition is usually nothing more than a failed attempt at hiding xenophobia and/or zionism as those that seek it believe that they were more powerful as a group "back then." The problem is it never will go back, and they are too hateful and/or fearful to accept it, much less that progress is positive. But please, before you go on harrasing, excluding, and discriminating against all "non-traditionalists," ask yourself "who would Jesus hate?" I seem to forget him urging others to treat some as lesser than ourselves.
October 16, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply
Heartland Patriot? more like Heartless.
I didn't serve our nation, just so I can hobble around for the rest of my life...
I served so people can be free to be themselves, for everyone to have the same rights as any other.
Not so some people can have more rights than the others.
The freedom to speak well of each other, as well as bigoted smallminded folks such as yourself the freedom to spout off your evil, hateful rhetoric.
Will your descendants look back on you as an example of how America was held back by such ignorance? I sincerely hope you do grow a heart, before you die a bitter old coot.
October 17, 2009 12:01 AM | Reply
The time is soon upon America when those who are tired of the freaks and the communists and the degenerates will stand up for what America was created for. I, for one, will not knowingly employ a homosexual, male or female, irrespective of what any law from any jurisdiction may demand.
Additionally, whenever America gets truly fed up of these socialists and communists attempting to overthrow America: Whenever America wants to put a stop to abortion: Whenever America decides that your Constitutional rights abolished under the past 6 administrations are in serious need of restoration: Whenever America decides that someone who understands the Constitution AND isn't afraid to fight for it is needed in Washington: Someone who wears pointed toed Cowboy boots specifically designed to penetration the rectum of errant politicians, here's my platform and what I believe in.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CecilRussellforPresident2012/message/1
I Am and Remain
Cecil Lee Russell
October 17, 2009 12:31 AM | Reply
Heartland Patriot(?) May I be the first to welcome you to the 21st century. This is nothing new, I had the same issue 30 years ago, (and you can take that ANY WAY YOU WANT TO, I DON'T CARE)
October 17, 2009 12:22 PM | Reply
Definitely not fair for the school to exclude her from the yearbook for being who she is. I wore a tuxedo in my yearbook and im a girl! I did it because everyone knows me as a tomboy and I don't own any girl clothing. All of my friends supported me and the yearbook director even told me he was okay with it even though the photographer who took my photos was scared that it wouldn't make it in the yearbook due schools like Wessen. I'm glad my school supported my decision! Not all girls dress like girls and shouldnt be force to based on gender roles or excluded because of their sexuality.
October 19, 2009 3:40 PM | Reply
A perfect example of HOMOPHOBIA at its finest...and people like you need to go to RUSSIA and dictate your beliefs there!
October 20, 2009 10:52 PM | Reply
No, she wants her picture in the yearbook with the other kids.
October 22, 2009 12:38 AM | Reply
I am truly shocked by the negative responses certain individuals base their fear on. Which, should be expected because FEAR is from the unknown and it seems there ARE still people in AMERICA that require a little more research to be done and that require a little more knowledge in certain areas. I commend this young woman for her diversity and for herself and standing up and believing in who she is regardless of attire. Which shouldn't be played up now should it? I mean REALLY? SERIOUSLY?
I myself am a very proud lesbian woman who in return wants nothing more than what the rest of the GLBT community wants and thats respect,honor,and equality.
In hopes, that your not teaching your children that its ok to discriminate when your telling them something completely different in your church.. Enough said.
"Live in Pride, You are YOUR freedom"
November 13, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply