CA Teen Suspended for Violating Dress Code

[Carolyn Marie]

I can't agree with this young girl's in-your-face attitude. Her approach isn't helping matters.

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/social-affairs/20140110/pico-rivera-transgender-teen-tired-of-mixed-messages-from-school-officials

Carolyn Marie

[KathrynJulia]

She is a little over the top. It's also possible she has so much frustration that she is just acting out to make a point. I hope not and I hope she is getting treatment from a good therapist who can talk to her and help her make a point in a more mature way. Kathryn

[Guest Motormouth18]

Ok, so she broke the rules for females & that is what she is? Even I knew better than to break the rules for either male/female (I didn't have to tuck my shirt in like the guys did. If you identify as a girl, then follow the rules. Breaking the rules is not a good way to make a statement. The bathroom thing is a bit confusing. I mean she's out publicly, so therefore you would figure that in CA, she'd be allowed to use the girls restroom.

[Guest Plaid Chameleon]

Epic facepalm.

[Guest Brenda Hailey]

Um ya,,,,dress code violations are real ,even if your not in school

Pushing the issue will ultimately get you what you deserve I suppose,you cant claim discrimination if you are actively breaking the rules for girls,and you are one.

She may feel there is a degree of "double standard" going on with her at school but causing trouble to bring light to it may not be the best way to go.

Brenda Hailey

[Ravin]

So they have no problem with her dressing in accord with her gender, but she was suspended for violating the dress code for that gender?

Yeah, count me in for a parental vibe facepalm.

I do think suspension is over the top for a dress code violation, but that's not a trans issue per se.

[VickySGV]

I agree with Ravin about this not being specific to Trans* students. I had to make trips to schools a few times to deliver "suitable" garments for my kids and take possession of "inappropriate" clothing. Which inspite of being a claimed "favorite" item, was left in the car for extended periods of time. None of my family transgressors were Trans* however. If the girl were not TG, this story would not have been reported anywhere. I do think the girl's parents should be a little more prominent in this story, because I do believe that High School and below needs to be a thing of the full family unit. Parents, students and educators need to be an actual TEAM in order for educational excellence to occur, and instead of a single team in cooperation, I see teams in opposition that is inappropriate. Returning the soap box to its place in the garage.

[Drea]

Well she is making a point cause she is denied full access to girls facilities.

The article suggest that anti-bullying policy protects based upon sexual orientation but not trans. So seriously there is no comprehensive policy on bullying? That bullying is acceptable for some reasons?

[Guest Motormouth18]

I can understand wanting to make a point about being denied those things and being bullied, but she went about it the wrong way. You don't break a rule like that one to make your point.

[Guest AmyJean]

First of all, one can hardly expect a 15 year old to always follow the rules and act rationally. If breaking the rules is what she had to do in order to get fair treatment from the school then so be it; and in that case it's called a protest.

[Guest LizMarie]

Here's the problem - the school is treating her as female for purposes of the dress code but denying she is female for other purposes, forcing her into other situations.

In addition, it sounds like the school has not been responsive to issues of bullying but that's second hand and we're only seeing one side of that story.

The school has now set itself open to legal action. It can not treat a student one way for one set of purposes then treat that student differently for another set of purposes, especially now with the new TG protection law in effect. (And yes, it is in effect, no matter what Pacific Justice Institute says on their website. The law can only be suspended if the referendum meets its goals and thus far it has not.)