Girl left out of high school yearbook for wearing tux
Girl left out of high school yearbook for wearing tux
May 17, 2014: Students at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory wore ties over their polo shirts and sweatshirts on campus to protest the administration's decision to omit senior Jessica Urbina's photo. KTVU.com
Students at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco wore ties to campus on Friday to protest the administration's decision to omita portrait of a female student wearing a in the .
Jessica Urbina, a senior at the Catholic high school, had her portrait taken last fall and elected to wear the tuxedo jacket and black bow-tie made available to boys instead of the black off-the-shoulder drape offered to girls.
Principal Gary Cannon told reporters that the controversy was a good learning opportunity for students but stressed that Sacred Heart is run in accordance with Roman Catholic Church teachings.
"Straight, gay, bi, transgender, they are all welcome in Sacred Heart Cathedral and at the same time we're going to be clear in terms of being a Catholic institution and what the Catholic Church teaches on how do we live out that faith in a meaningful way," Cannon said.
School officials said Jessica violated Archdiocese of San Francisco policy because she didn't comply with the dress code required for female students in yearbook photos, KTVU.com reported.
Tommy Clifford, a student at Sacred Heart, told the station he was proud to show support for Jessica by wearing a tie to class.
Shes a very good friend of mine, Clifford said. I wanted to show her my support.
Ilona Turner, legal director of the Transgender Law Center in Oakland, said that if Sacred Heart receives state funds it could be violating a new law that prohibits schools from denying students access to sex-segregated activities and programs on the basis of their gender identity or a gender appearance.
"This appears to be a clear case of discrimination based on gender expression and discrimination based on sex," Turner told The Associated Press. "They are saying that boys can wear a tuxedo in their photos and girls cannot."
The exclusion of Jessica's portrait also could violate Title IX, the federal law that bans gender discrimination at schools, she said.
"It's hard to imagine what policy reason they would have for forcing a student to wear clothing they are uncomfortable with," Turner said. "It seems very, very far removed from any possible arguments around religious tenets related to sexuality."
Cannon was scheduled to meet with Jessica and her older brother on Friday afternoon to discuss what she will wear at graduation, according to KTVU.com.
In a statement released to the station, the school said it would work to change the policy in the future.
"As we prepare to pass out , it is always regretful when a student portrait is omitted for any reason. As a community we will to work tirelessly to ensure that all students are included in the future," the statement read.
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I disagree with the school. So what if she was wearing a tuxedo! At least she wasn't wearing something extremely revealing.
I just wonder if a Dress Code was sent out, and if there was, if Tuxedos were not allowed.
(by females)
One would think that they would be praising her for wearing something formal to have her picture taken... But then, it is a school where they wish to stamp out everything into their mold. Sigh! It wasn't a nasty outfit, and why on earth couldn't they let her be herself?
Some of the private schools, (at least here in Louisville), are VERY good, more like a formal prep school. Others are not at all good, and the kids, while well-versed in Bible Studies, are tested consistently below grade level. (I know of an example of a Junior, who was put back in 8th grade. when she transferred to a public school, because that was her knowledge...)
Maybe she didn't think it was a big deal- or realize it. I mean, that's sheer speculation on my part, but as far as rebellious behavior goes, that's pretty mild.
People who are definitely not gay, also wear tuxes. Maybe she just wanted to make a fashion statement.
I agree Dowse! It's a lot better than....
Wow. If I had even remotely thought about wearing some of these, I'd still be grounded.
I'm thinking a Tuxedo is better than any of these!
Dowser...I would be DEAD!!! If I thought about wearing one of these. And parents let their kids out of the house with those dresses?? (Tzia scratching her head)
Exactly what I'm thinking...
Unbelievable.
Maybe if she wore her workout outfit ...
lol.......the chaperones would have heart attacks!!
Is she doing that on purpose? Because, let me tell this woman-- Honey, when you get to be my age, you are going to wish you never even remotely tried that... That is the quickest way to arthritis of the back, I've ever seen.
In fact, I'd like to categorically state, for the record, to anyone younger than I, which is about everyone, that anything you do a lot of, will lead to arthritis in the end.
For years, I stood near the drilling rig, propped up on my left leg, using my right leg as a stepping off point when I needed to go gather a sample, or do anything. Today, I'm a candidate for hip replacement surgery in my left hip. Thanks to sleeping on my side, stretching my left leg out to ease the pressure on that hip, I've managed to mess up my back. Pulling on all those heavy bags of mud has messed up both shoulders and elbows, and holding notebooks, etc., in one position for hours has done my wrists in. We won't even talk about innards and lifting.
I don't see what the problem is, her dress was the proper length.
oops...wrong article...sorry..
I was thinking this was the Prom article.....DUH !! forehead smack
In my experience it is not short exercises that causes problems . It is the habitual tension . That usually happens from working for many hours in one asymmetric position .