Can Mississippi high schools get no love from the ACLU? There was the Constance McMillen fracas that got Itawamba County School District to fork over $35,000 and institute a non-discrimination policy. And now the civil liberties group is going after the Wesson Attendance Center for excluding lesbian Ceara Sturgis’ yearbook photo where she sported a tuxedo.
(The school ended up printing yearbooks without even including Sturgis’ name.)
A federal lawsuit claims Sturgis’ rights under Title IX and the 14th Amendment were violated. At the very least, they could’ve printed the superlative “Most Likely To Sue.”
EARLIER:
Ceara Sturgis’ High School Refused to Run Her Tuxedo Picture in the Yearbook. Or Even Mention Her Name
Ceara Sturgis’ Tuxedo Yearbook Photo That Her High School Won’t Publish
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Ronnie
The queer community has taken things too far. Is that a chick or a dude? Is gotten to the point where I can’t tell whether someone is a male, female, or sasquach. Why is it so damn difficult to stick with your gender? Is it too much to ask for men not to wear lipstick and dresses, and for women not to look like dudes? We have become so PC that I can’t even critisize these creatures without getting labeled. This is SICK SICK SICK
pete
You’re joking, right? If not, you’re an ass.
Ronnie
@pete:
What next? Does she want to go inside the men’s room and pee standing up??? Next, the ACLU will file a lawsuit against places that have restrooms displaying a girl with a dress on the door.
edgyguy1426
Ronnie: why do people have to conform to types that make YOU feel comfortable? Why should anyone have to sacrifice their own self so you can feel better?
edgyguy1426
and I’ll bet you’re saying “What kind of name *is* Ceara, anyway why can’t she just have a regular girls name like Lisa or Deborah” – not some sexually ambiguous name like Ronnie. What kind of name IS Ronnie, anyway, is it a boys name or a girls name?
Molly
Ronnie: People are who they are. That’s the beauty of the human race. Some people were born with a penis but identify as a woman, and some people were born with a vagina but identify as a man. Some people are comfortable with the gender they were born with, but are happier when they don’t ‘stick to their gender’. What does that even mean, anyhow? Do women need to stick to the stereotype of long hair and dresses because it’s expected? Do men need to wear suits and ties because it’s the cultural norm in America? Anyway, Ceara is a beautiful girl who feels best with short hair and ‘male-oriented’ clothing. How does that effect you? Why do you feel the need to criticize other people? Does it make you feel better about yourself? I pity you and your lack of education, empathy, and self-confidence.
What are you even doing on queerty?
Molly
@Ronnie: People are who they are. That’s the beauty of the human race. Ceara is a beautiful girl who’s more comfortable with short hair and ‘dude’s’ clothing. How does that affect you?
Bill Perdue
@Ronnie: “Is (sic, sick) gotten to the point where I can’t tell whether someone is a male, female, or sasquach.”
That’s why you’re so lonely.
carouser
Well they’re back at it again in Miss today with a new case of a graduating lesbian student who’s decided to sue her school for not allowing her to be pictured on her prom night in her tuxedo’s finest.
It’s confirmed Mississippi is not a good place to be a lesbian.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2010/08/lesbian-student-ceara-sturgis-sues-over-rejected-tux-photo/
Anna C
I’d have to disagree with you carouser. Miss. isn’t the worst place to be a lesbian. I was born and still live here. Ceara, Constance and the many other Miss. queer kids just show that living in a not-so accepting environment (like Miss.) can forge strong leaders. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a good many of these youth and they are all inspirations. Miss. has gotten a rep of being the worst place to be queer, however, I think most of you would be surprised if you came and stuck around for a little while. It’s tough but there are perks that make it worth the fight.
dfrw
@Anna:
Such as?
littlebylittle
@dfrw: I’m sure “the perks that make it worth the fight” Anna C refers to include being able to see real progress being made and participating in that progress. Thanks, Anna C, for sticking it out.
Robert
Anna, don’t kid yourself…Mississippi is the land that time forgot. And we’re not just talking LGBT issues…it’s also the “fattest” state (has the highest proportion of residents overweight), usually the dumbest (lowest SAT scores), and Mississippi’s idea of a ‘welcome’ is a Confederate flag and battlefield.
Eddie
I wonder how much the school will have to pay for making the mistake of excluding someone because of their tuxedo. But, honestly, if you are going to make a dick-move, make one that isn’t so easily sued.
Anna C
Exactly Littlebylittle. Hate on Mississippi if you wish Robert but I remember being alongside 50 others for the Prop 8 protest in my town (Hattiesburg). Before those days places like San Francisco and New York were the beacons of hope for all the queers living in rural areas. No doubt Mississippi is behind in a lot of ways but don’t try pulling the overweight and supposedly low SAT scores without understanding why those things might exist in my state. Being the one of the poorest (if not poorest) states in the US means that many Mississippians have limited access to proper foods and healthcare as well as limited access to education. The concept can be found in other areas around the US yet, it’s much easier to villainize one state as opposed to bringing attention to a system which hinders progression (in all areas).
D Smith
trolls like ronnie are what make the T part of the community feel unwelcome by the way, who cares if she wanted to wear a tux… that’s her decision… i found it pretty easy to tell that she was female… because i bothered to read the article first… you are just a uneducated bigot… please GDIAF
what?
@Ronnie: What’s sick is your ignorance. Maybe we should split the country up into those who regard others as equals and those who are bigoted.
Regardless, you should have no right to tell someone how to feel. They’re not hurting anyone.