TUX REDUX

Lesbian Teen’s Case Against School For Nixing Yearbook Photo Will Continue

Yesterday, a Mississippi court denied a motion by Copiah County School District to dismiss a lawsuit brought against it by Ceara Sturgis, an out lesban who was excluded from her school yearbook at Weston Attendance Center because she chose to wear a tuxedo in her senior portrait instead of the usual drape given to girls.

According to the ACLU, “the order says that the district must explain why Sturgis was required to wear a drape to be included in the yearbook.”

At the time of her original filing, Sturgis said, “I feel like I’m not important, that the school is dismissing who I am as a gay student and that they don’t even care about me. All I want is to be able to be me, and to be included in the yearbook.”

“We’re glad that Ceara will get to have her day in court,” said Joshua Block, an attorney with the ACLU’s LGBT Project. “No student should ever be excluded from important rites of passage just for being who they are.”

We don’t know exactly what Mississippi schools are like, but if they’re like every other school in America they have bigger issues to deal with than whether some graduating senior chose to wear a monkey suit in her senior photo.

It’s not she like wore a “Marriage is So Gay” T-shirt.

Images via Ceara Sturgis

Jump to 27 Comments

By: Dan Avery
On: Sep 16, 2011
Tagged: Ceara Sturgis, gay youth, Lawsuits, Lesbians, Mississippi, schools

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27 Comments

No. 1 · Jimmy
She looks like the ‘straight’ dude from Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing. Anyone?

Sep 16, 2011 at 4:47 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 2 · mike
That’s it Jimmy, big man, pick on the high schooler over her looks.

She has the guts to stand up and be proud — and you couldn’t just say “cheers” or “snaps” for her bravery?

Sep 16, 2011 at 5:27 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 3 · Carl
I’m glad she will get her day in court, clearly the school is worried about the outcome or they wouldn’t have made this desperate attempt to have the case dropped.

Also, I am jealous of her hair, whenever I try to grow mine out it just starts to curl – very annoying.

Sep 16, 2011 at 5:55 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 4 · milhouse
What’s the deal with lesbians in tuxes? It’s just not a good look and never has been.

Sep 17, 2011 at 2:02 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 5 · declanto · Member · 452 comments
@milhouse: It’s not about the look, it’s about personal choice. And if somebody wants to crossdress to signal their identity, “formal” is the clearest statement. Go, Ceara, you do rock.

Sep 17, 2011 at 4:16 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 6 · James
@Jimmy: Jackass.

Rock on Ceara!

Sep 17, 2011 at 10:14 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 7 · the crustybastard · Member · 215 comments
OHNOES! Ms Sturgis’ choice of formalwear hurt somebody’s delicate sensibilities?

Damnatio memoriae! Erase her from history!

Sep 17, 2011 at 11:14 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 8 · Shannon1981 · Member · 1673 comments
Open and shut case. Clear discrimination based upon gender presentation in the public school system, which is an arm of the government, which cannot discriminate. If she doesn’t win, there will be hell to pay.

Sep 17, 2011 at 3:19 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 9 · Shannon1981 · Member · 1673 comments
@milhouse: I am going to wear a white tux at my wedding. Got a problem with that?

Sep 17, 2011 at 3:20 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 10 · the crustybastard · Member · 215 comments
@Shannon1981:

Getting married? Mazel Tov!

Sep 17, 2011 at 5:49 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 11 · declanto · Member · 452 comments
Putting on a tux is the sh*t. There is nothing that makes a person feel more on top than knowing they look killer-super-dooper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFabjc6mFk4

Sep 18, 2011 at 5:33 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 12 · Shannon1981 · Member · 1673 comments
@the crustybastard: LOL I gotta find a wife to be first! But I assure you there will be no dresses. I am a boi who dates other bois. A dress? PUHHHLEAAASSEEE. Sorry, haven’t worn one in 10+ years. I was just challenging milhouse.

Thanks though! I’ll invite you when she comes along.

Sep 18, 2011 at 11:21 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 13 · the crustybastard · Member · 215 comments
@Shannon1981:

LOL. I reckon milhouse is already “challenged.”

Sep 18, 2011 at 12:21 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 14 · Jimmy
Just an observation. Not sure how a lesbian being slightly androgynous and looking like a man is a negative thing? Lets not all be so sensitive.

Sep 18, 2011 at 1:52 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 15 · alan Balehead
Marlene Dietrich wore Tuxedos..looked very sharp!!

Sep 18, 2011 at 5:36 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 16 · Shannon1981 · Member · 1673 comments
@Jimmy: That’s why these fools are being sued.It isn’t a negative thing.

@the crustybastard: Haha, yeah.

Sep 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 17 · VERONICA KURTZ RODRIGUEZ
Thank you for all the great support for my daughter Ceara! She is a wonderful loving human being! I am so very proud of her. She is MY hero!

Sep 19, 2011 at 8:41 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 18 · Kaylene Cole-Daughdrill
Actually, I can tell you that tuxes on lesbians can be VERY flattering (at least, IMHO as a drag king in SF, haha).

Congratulations on having the guts to stand up for yourself and who you are! It’s people like Ceara who are making the world a better place for my kids when they get to high school (they’re in school in Louisiana, right next door).

Sep 19, 2011 at 3:35 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 19 · ellie
oh wow -_- people just get so dumb please stop having kids!! >_> i hate people who dont mind there own business shes gay and its her right :p i hate school..

Sep 19, 2011 at 3:40 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 20 · Jack
@ VERONICA KURTZ RODRIGUEZ – With a mother like you, you will not have to worry about her She is who she is because of you. I just feel for the children in those situations when the parents don’t stand up for them. Keep it up and kick their butts!!!

Sep 19, 2011 at 3:44 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 21 · Crow
I’m sure it’s tough enough being a lesbian in Mississippi, but this gender discrimination is lame. She isn’t wearing anything obscene, and looks very nice in this photo. Anyone offended by this has got to rearrange their moral issues.

Sep 19, 2011 at 3:45 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 22 · Rachel Glover
FCKH8!

Sep 19, 2011 at 5:55 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 23 · Beth
Ooh, cutie (: she’s a senior?

Sep 19, 2011 at 9:03 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 24 · Beth
@VERONICA KURTZ RODRIGUEZ: she’s beautiful (: and you get the coolest mom award!

Sep 19, 2011 at 9:06 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 25 · tippyt
@the crustybastard: don’t insult challenged people like that!

Sep 19, 2011 at 9:29 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 26 · the crustybastard · Member · 215 comments
@VERONICA KURTZ RODRIGUEZ:

You’re obviously a helluva mom. Well done!

Sep 19, 2011 at 11:26 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 27 · tammyr
I know lots of people who had formal pics taken OUTSIDE of school and were not in the ‘traditional’ drape given to the girls who had their pics taken at school. If they are allowed to wear what they want, so should Ceara!!!!

Nov 16, 2011 at 6:40 pm · @Reply · Flag