If we didn’t know any better, we could have mistaken 16-year-old high school student Jonathan Escobar for one of those 90210 chicks. But Jonathan is a boy. And like any young man who chooses to wear women’s clothing, he’s facing some not so nice treatment at school. From its administrators.
Just three days into the school year, Escobar says an assistant principal at North Cobb High School (outside Atlanta) told him he had to wear more masculine clothing, or possibly have to be home schooled. This, despite administrators telling Escobar before he enrolled that there would be no problem with his wardrobe. (Escobar moved to live with his sister after his parents in Florida disapproved of his dress.)
And what was he wearing to school that was so atrocious? Things like pink wigs and makeup — but never dresses or even heels! AJC:
You can’t wear clothing that causes a disruption,” said Jay Dillon, spokesman for Cobb County schools.
Dillon said he believed Escobar arrived at school in a dress and heels. But Escobar said he never wore a dress. He says he opted for “skinny” jeans all three days with flats.
The district lists the dress code on its homepage. The rule states that students should “refrain from any mode of dress which proves to contribute to any disruption of school functions.”
School administrators and teachers are the final judge of the appropriateness of clothing, according to the rule.
But then the school forgot about the power of Facebook. And how these stories tend to attract a ridiculous amount of media attention.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Jonathan Escobar says he wasn’t a disruption in the classroom, but he attracted attention in the lunchroom. “Everybody was surrounding me,” he said.
On his second day of school, Escobar says he was pulled out of class to speak with a police officer who told him he was concerned about the student’s safety.
“They should’ve told the students to back off,” Escobar said. “They should have never given me the option of homeschooling or changing who I am.”
In his short time at the Kennesaw school, Escobar apparently made quick friends. By Tuesday evening, nearly 900 supporters had joined a Facebook group called “Support Jonathan.” Many were planning to purchase a bright pink T-shirt with the same phrase.
And Jonathan? You look great. Wear whatever you want, though we are concerned about those stiletto platforms you’ve got on. Thems can be dangerous.
terrwill
Situations like this are kinda like a Sophies choice. The administrators really have no business telling the kid what he can and can’t wear as long as it is not an infraction of an existing accepted dress code. When a kid dresses in such a way he really is just an attention whore. He knows that is just not going to be accepted by a lot of kids in school. I really don’t care what he does on his own time. However there is no way around the fact every Gay kid is lumped in with this kid. And some Gay kid who is minding his own business can be on the recieving end of shit from other kids because of this kid. I know this is a tough one but kids have no choice but to be around other kids during the school day. Gay kids who potentially make it unsafe for other kids by their behaviour have no right to do so. And that is just what this kid is doing………Sad but its a fact
mulletkitty
Wow. I totally disagree. There’s no Sophie’s Choice here. And high school administrators should be well versed in dealing with adolescent self-assertion (or “attention whores” as you call them). That some of what he’s doing is acting out is irrelevant; this is his form of protest, and he’s in the right. The administrator’s have a clear path: discipline those students for bullying. Gay kids suffer not because of brave kids like Jonathan, but b/c of bullies who feel entitled and empowered to harrass, or worse. This is a widespread problem and not going to go away. The FB group is way ahead of the administrators on this one.
terrwill
As I said the Administrators are wrong. Gay kids should be encouraged to be out and proud. However there is no way one is going to ever rid schools of the spawn of rightwing-nutbags who will hate Gay kids no matter what. This kid by being so outrageous is putting a hurt on other Gay kids for no reason. This is a real sore point for me because when in high school there was a similar situation a kid took the whole Queen Mary role to the extreme over exagarating each and every negative Gay stereotype. A friend of mine who was out and kept to him self was beaten into a coma and suffered permanent brain damage because “he was gay just like Brian”. That is what I am talking about here. And I am sorry “adolsecent self-assetrion” is just another way of saying he IS an attention whore…………..
edgyguy1426
Mullet, you’re right, it’s a blame the victim kind of situation. And I think Jonathan’s friends have the right idea. If he made this move from Florida to Georgia because he needed to be who he was without parental pressure, then it’s a strong indication he’s not doing it just as a fad. And TerrWill, blaming the flamboyant kid for Brian’s attack is putting the blame on the wrong kid(s).
terrwill
You are missing my whole point. These kids need to realize that they are all part of a group. When one’s behaviour is way out of the norm it has a negative effect on the group as a whole. It is wrong and they have no right to bash,ridicule,or harrass any of these kids. But they do and thats what wrong with being so outrageous in a school enviroment. You are forcing fellow Gay kids to be included in the effects of your behaviour. At home, at the mall, at a club, park whereever attendance is voluntary you can do what eva the hell you want……
Kian
Do you really think bullies are triggered by the more flamboyant among us and the rest of the gays have to take the brunt? Because that’s what it sounds like you are saying. I hate to break it to you, but you will always be grouped with people like Jonathan. Bullies are too focused on hating to take the time to parse the difference between people like you and people like Jonathan.
Jason
What a cunt.
The principal, not the he-she.
sydneyfamous
I don’t get why people feel the need to hate on people that aren’t like themselves… That’s all I don’t get.
That kid has some guts, I hope he stays strong. 🙂
Adolf
While this kid maybe be dressing as he feels is right. We have to look at the big picture here. Kids are in school to learn, if his pink wig is making a distraction from the teacher doing his/her job and teaching the class, the child should tone it down and dress appropriate for the class room.
I know some schools have “dress codes”. No gang colors, no hats, no cell phones, etc. You’re there to learn, not to express your self.
billyboy
How brave for him to assert himself as an INDIVIDUAL.
Cam
You know what kind of shocked me about this article? This is a school in Georgia….and the kid has tons of people at the school supporting him?! You know, every since CA voted down gay marriage, and Iowa approved it I think I need to reevaluate my opinion on which states are accepting and which aren’t. The fact that a few hundred kids in Cobb County GA. are supporting this kid was really a pleasent shock!
Cindy Johnson
I think he’s hot and cute!
Kiara
i go to the school he attended, NORTH COBB HIGH SCHOOL to be exact..id love to get the school’s name out there because i am completely disgusted and ashamed by the behavior my classmates and administrators they showed towards this wonderful human being. jonathon is an AMAZINGGG person and i have a petition goin around to bring him back! THIS IS DISCRIMINATION PEOPLE! i love you jonathon<3 stay pretty baby<3
PopSnap
I would personally never even dream of dressing like a girl, as I as a gay man think its tacky and unnatractive, but hey if it flaots his boat. Who gives a shit what other people think?
As i’ve said many times before, teens have always always always been good at picking up immediantly on things like hypocrisy and youth has a good way of saying “if it harms none, who gives a shit?”
sal(the original)
if he’s wearing what any girl on the premises can wear i dont see the problem.and i hate the fools that compare his wear to racists hateful t shirts etc.some people say he’s breaking the rules so he is wrong and he’s “part of a group” well this group sounds kinda narrow if they never took into consideration 3rd sex kids,they do exist folks!!
sal(the original)
“I know some schools have “dress codes”. No gang colors”are you crazzyyyyyy,are you comparing gang color coded garments to a kid in a dress??!!!yo moron,maybe you should focus on your studies and not study this kid so much
sal(the original)
i hope this kid becomes a big flipin success and watch all the stupid punks that judged his intelligence on what he frigin wore do absolutely nothing with their small ignorant lives
sal(the original)
i mean we live in a world that we see tons of examples of people who dont fit some rigid mold who become leaders innovators of our society yet we still have fools who judge people on what they choose to wear ….there are frigin countries where a woman in trousers can get arrested and whipped and that LAW!!!!its stupid but its law,to all the punks who said ‘its the rules’ yeah its the silly rules
sal(the original)
girl ya’ll get me all worked up
douglas
what a freak,he can dress up at home school is for learning.
Jason
School is no place for extreme self expression that can disrupt the school day. Many intercity schools disallow certain colors due to gang activity, I would imagine they can restrict this. The kids are there to learn and should be receiving a serious dose of discipline. I have always been an advocate of uniforms so I guess I am probably considered a little conservative.
I wouldn’t put up with it in a Corporate headquarters and I wouldn’t put up with it in school.
KLynne
Ok, I got tired of reading all these as its kind of early in the morning here. I just want to say to Terriwill: I think you’re not seeing the bigger picture. If it’s accepted that the bullies will be bullies, why can’t it also be accepted that the boys who want to dress like girls (or vice-versa) will do just that? And if we’re going to change people, kick them out of school, and tell them they can’t do what they’re doing then why in the world would we choose the one who wanna wear skinny jeans and not the ones who are causing physical and emotional damage?!
Just because the bullies have been around longer than the queer kids doesn’t make them right and it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to curb that type of bigoted behavior. People pick on the minority, especially when the minority dresses like a girl and that’s not right.
schlukitz
Poor kid. He’s damned if if does and damned if he doesn’t.
So, wtf does it matter what he does? Someone will be unhappy in either event!
Muffy
I think the bigger problem was that he insisted on using the girls bathroom. The administration asked him to use a faculty bathroom, but he didn’t want cooperate with that. He says the way he dresses is his “art”, but art doesn’t have anything to do with where you go to the bathroom.
Andrew ex pat Aussie in US
The main focus of school life is learning – not fashion parades. Life would be a lot simpler of school uniforms were mandatory. Also the officials were concerned for the safetyof this attention seeking youth. He can be as self expressing as he likes after school hours.
a
i just want people to realize cross-dressing and homosexuality aren’t the same thing- of course most gay men dress “like men”, and many cross-dressers are straight. cross-dressing is an issue of gender identity, not sexuality.
sal(the original)
Jason “I have always been an advocate of uniforms” yeah so i guess you think women should wear skirts only and if they DAREEEE wear pants lock em up!!!right!?
sal(the original)
Jason “so I guess I am probably considered a little conservative” yeah you are log cabin friend
Muffy
BTW, Escobar was not kicked out of school as the title of the video claims. He withdrew himself.
Davi Perreault
Jonathan,
I completely support your right to free expression. I volunteer for Equality Florida, and as you know Florida is very conservative. I know personally how difficult it is to be different. I watched your interview on HLN and it was not clear whether you are Gay or Transgendered. Even if your Artistic demonstration is gender bending fashion, everyone is going to try to identify your sexuality.
This past year I met both the parent’s of Matthew Shepard and Ryan Keith Skipper. Both of these young men were out and Proud. They were also both killed in anti-gay hate crimes. Please be very careful. It is a terrible and dangerous world. Surround yourself with good friends and think about returning to school as a leader. Perhaps you could help others while you help yourself. Consider starting a Gay/Straight Alliance. People are uncomfortable with the way you dress because of homophobia. You have a lot of courage, Do great things with it.
If you need information on how to start a club in you school please email me =) [email protected] Good luck! Also check out gayamericanheroes.org
Thanks for being yourself,
Davi
autumn
He should switch public high schools. He should come to Oakwood High School in Cobb County. It is the Cobb County open campus high school and has been open for more than thirty years. The most highly qualified teachers in Cobb County work at Oakwood High School. The students choose to go there. The staff are very accepting and care about their students, regardless of their background or personal choices. So, Jonathan, if you read this, feel free to register. A new session starts next Tuesday. They’d be happy to have you and with their flexible schedule, you’ll more than likely graduate sooner than you expect! http://www.cobbk12.org/Oakwood/
alan brickman
another self promoting loser….
magentabab
My nephew is having a similar issue in a small town in rural Washington. He chooses to wear fun and wild “clown wigs,” make up and bright colored sneakers. In my minds eye school is about education. Education however encompasses many aspects. Our schools are a microcosm of society. Society IS diversity.. If we don’t learn about diversity in our schools then what hope is there for our next generation of leaders, shakers and movers to embrace individuality. Control is an illusion. It is better to embrace or at least be exposed to cultural differences. If this is to difficult than we should at least put prejudice aside and allow difference. Personally, I am very proud of my nephew for being true to his colors…whatever those colors may be. If the other students are distracted then the teachers might want to offer diversity training. May Jonathan Escobar be embraced by the support he is receiving and continue to be a beacon for self expression and self acceptance. April
K
FYI, he didn’t wear a pink wig. That was made up by the administration. Just watched his interview on Tyra
Mornings
Escobar is sexy as hell.and yes I am a dude.I want to get his number.