Chrissy64_uk
02-05-2009, 10:13 AM
Girl can't wear tux to prom?
By Carmen McCollum
carmen.mccollum@ nwi.com, (219) 662-5337 | Friday, April 24, 2009 |
HAMMOND | The mother of a Hammond High School junior told the School Board on Thursday night that administrators are trying to force her daughter to wear a dress to the prom.
Tina Gomez-Ferrell said her daughter Hilary, 17, is a lesbian and is uncomfortable wearing dresses. She said she had planned to order a tuxedo for her daughter.
"I believe that it's discriminatory, " Gomez-Ferrell said.
"I was told if she wears pants to the prom, she will not be allowed to go in," Gomez-Ferrell said.
She said her daughter doesn't have anything in writing about the dress code. However, Gomez-Ferrell said Hammond High School administrators are asking students to sign a paper saying they agree to dress in appropriate attire, with girls wearing dresses and boys wearing tuxedos or a nice pant suit.
Reached at home Thursday night, Hammond High School Principal Linda Fullilove declined to comment.
The prom is set for May 15 at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster.
Meanwhile, Gomez-Ferrell said her daughter is very comfortable with her sexuality and the family is comfortable with it. She said her daughter gets along well with her classmates.
"She probably hasn't worn a dress since she was 2," the mother said. "I have not forced her to wear one. She wears pants to school."
Gomez-Ferrell said her daughter should be free to wear whatever she chooses to the prom as long as it is formal attire. She said there are several other girls at the school who are openly gay and may not go to the prom because they don't want to wear dresses.
The issue came as a surprise to Hammond School Board members. School Board President Anna Mamala said she personally didn't see a problem with a girl wearing a tuxedo.
Theresa Mayerik, director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services, stopped to talk to Gomez-Ferrell and her daughter after the meeting was over. She promised to look into the issue today.
Three years ago, the Gary Community School Corp. faced a similar situation when a young man wore a pink gown to the prom.
Kevin "K.K." Logan sued the school district. In January, Federal Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry slapped the Gary School Corp. with sanctions and a stern rebuke in the case of Logan, described in the suit as a transgender student, who was turned away from the West Side High School prom in 2006 because he wore a pink gown.
By Carmen McCollum
carmen.mccollum@ nwi.com, (219) 662-5337 | Friday, April 24, 2009 |
HAMMOND | The mother of a Hammond High School junior told the School Board on Thursday night that administrators are trying to force her daughter to wear a dress to the prom.
Tina Gomez-Ferrell said her daughter Hilary, 17, is a lesbian and is uncomfortable wearing dresses. She said she had planned to order a tuxedo for her daughter.
"I believe that it's discriminatory, " Gomez-Ferrell said.
"I was told if she wears pants to the prom, she will not be allowed to go in," Gomez-Ferrell said.
She said her daughter doesn't have anything in writing about the dress code. However, Gomez-Ferrell said Hammond High School administrators are asking students to sign a paper saying they agree to dress in appropriate attire, with girls wearing dresses and boys wearing tuxedos or a nice pant suit.
Reached at home Thursday night, Hammond High School Principal Linda Fullilove declined to comment.
The prom is set for May 15 at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster.
Meanwhile, Gomez-Ferrell said her daughter is very comfortable with her sexuality and the family is comfortable with it. She said her daughter gets along well with her classmates.
"She probably hasn't worn a dress since she was 2," the mother said. "I have not forced her to wear one. She wears pants to school."
Gomez-Ferrell said her daughter should be free to wear whatever she chooses to the prom as long as it is formal attire. She said there are several other girls at the school who are openly gay and may not go to the prom because they don't want to wear dresses.
The issue came as a surprise to Hammond School Board members. School Board President Anna Mamala said she personally didn't see a problem with a girl wearing a tuxedo.
Theresa Mayerik, director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services, stopped to talk to Gomez-Ferrell and her daughter after the meeting was over. She promised to look into the issue today.
Three years ago, the Gary Community School Corp. faced a similar situation when a young man wore a pink gown to the prom.
Kevin "K.K." Logan sued the school district. In January, Federal Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry slapped the Gary School Corp. with sanctions and a stern rebuke in the case of Logan, described in the suit as a transgender student, who was turned away from the West Side High School prom in 2006 because he wore a pink gown.