Last fall, Jessica Urbina, who typically wears what some
consider traditionally male clothing, had her picture taken for the high school
yearbook wearing a tuxedo and now officials at the school, San Francisco's
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory School say she violated the school's policy,
which states that, regarding yearbook photos, girls must wear
“drapes,” and boys must wear a shirt, tie and jacket.
I’m assuming by drapes they mean some sort of dress
and not those Carlo Burnett Went With The
Wind sketch drapes. Cuz that would make a whole different yearbook …
but I digress.
Principal Gary Cannon isn’t saying too much about
the issue, citing a student's right to privacy, but he did indicate that he had
previous talks with Jessica about what was allowed in the photo, and what was
not. And he does insist that Jessica Urbina’s picture will appear in the
yearbook, and some say the picture will be photoshopped to fit school guidelines,
though Cannon hasn’t admitted to that.
Seriously.
Now, however, her classmates are taking a stand against this
kind of ridiculous censorship by coming to school wearing bow ties to support Jessica.
And Jessica’s older brother, Michael, has begun a social
media campaign under the #JessicasTux hashtag in support of his younger
sister, and he hopes to meet with school officials over the yearbook issue.
"I've seen all these people with all the ties. Honestly, I've cried multiple times. I'm overwhelmed with all the support."—Jessica Urbina
Let’s make this perfectly queer: what difference does
it make how Jessica, or anyone else for that matter, dresses in their yearbook
photo? It’s their choice how they wish to present themselves and be remembered
long after graduation. And for a girl who has always worn what many see as men’s
clothing to school to be forced to wear a dress, or be draped in some outdated attempt
at femininity, doesn’t treat Jessica, or allow Jessica to present herself, as
she has always done.
Yes, schools have traditions and guidelines, but
the world is changing and schools need to change with the times.
It’s a tuxedo for crying out loud. She should have been able to wear it.
