Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & Nightlife

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Next Thing You Know, the Girls Will be Wearing Pants!

Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 1:30 PM

b3d6/1238619428-bilde.jpgSixteen-year-old Justin Reynolds, who was sent home from school for dressing like a girl (in jeans, V-neck shirt, jewelry and makeup) is my hero of the day—not just for his defiance of his school district's ridiculous dress code (which explicitly states that students are expected to dress "in keeping with their gender") but because he's comfortable enough in his skin to be an out, cross-dressing gay teenager in small-town Central Florida—which, last I checked, wasn't exactly known for its acceptance of sexual transgression.

Photo via the Ocala Star-Banner, where the comments are all the evidence you need that this was a truly brave thing to do. Story via Pam's House Blend.

Share via

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Newsvine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Email
 

Comments (16) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
first post!
Posted by insert WINE THIEF reference here on April 1, 2009 at 1:41 PM
2
Huh. Maybe they removed the negative comments, because the ones I'm seeing on that article are pretty fair-minded and politely voiced, for the most part.
Posted by leek on April 1, 2009 at 1:43 PM
3
How's it feel that a guy dresses more attractively than you do, Erica?
Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on April 1, 2009 at 1:46 PM
4
Wow, more power to him! That kid's got a great future ahead of him.. provided he gets outta FL.

BTW, the comments I saw posted were almost all positive... not sure what comments you were seeing, ECB...

Posted by merry on April 1, 2009 at 1:56 PM
5
Holy shit. I wasn't even that out in high school; none of my friends that later turned out to be queer in some form were. We all knew that central Florida was a really easy place to die if you try to be who you are; even if you're lucky enough to be in a school where the administration supports you (and we weren't), you'll just one day .. not make it home.

That's kind of amazing. Go Justin, and good luck.
Posted by Cow on April 1, 2009 at 1:58 PM
6
There was a really nasty comment on the second page of comments, but y'all are right - most of them were, if not positive, at least respectful.

The deep south is not a safe place to be that out. I know grown men who are, in their private lives...flamboyant, shall we say, but are very "normal" or average in public. There is still a lot of intolerance in these parts, even in the cities.

It took guts for the kid to do what he did. Hope he stays safe and sane.
Posted by Sheryl on April 1, 2009 at 2:02 PM
7
He's (or she's?) just following the rules, if these damn principals are so smart why do they keep punishing kids for following the rules? I think any principal that makes a rule and then punishes someone for following it should get their salary cut in half for that month. If you don't like the rules change them, but don't punish someone for following them.
Posted by Chris on April 1, 2009 at 2:03 PM
8
Back in the '80s my school district didn't allow us to wear shorts and didn't have air-conditioning. The high school quarterback, fed up with sweating in jeans while surrounded by women staying comfortably cool in their skirts, decided to review the dress code in excruciating detail. The next day he showed up for school in a light summer dress. When they tried to send him home for his unconventional clothing, he pointed out that the dress code was not gender-specific. They allowed him to return to class. The next day more guys showed up wearing skirts and dresses, and the next day even more as we were in the midst of a heat wave. Soon the school board had amended the dress code to forbid non-gender appropriate clothing. The next day the quarterback arrived in a kilt.
Posted by ay1ene on April 1, 2009 at 2:03 PM
9
I have that outfit.
Posted by snargent pepper on April 1, 2009 at 2:14 PM
10
that is one ugly chick
Posted by big arms are the bane of this nation on April 1, 2009 at 2:30 PM
11
That made my day. Thanks for posting that, Erica. Even though I am one of those dreaded over-the-hill baby boomers I still appreciate that sort of defiance of authority. Horray for Justin!
Posted by Heather on April 1, 2009 at 2:31 PM
12
missy manboobs should add a bra to the ensemble
Posted by bow wow on April 1, 2009 at 2:32 PM
13
I'm 14 and and last night I was with my girlfriend in my room and we were making out and shit but we couldn't have sex because my mom kept walking by and we had to keep the door open. So we decided to go out for a swim in the lake so that we would be alone. So we were having sex out in lake for a few minutes when I feel a sharp pain on my nut sac. I feel down and a leach had stuck on to my nut and neither of knew what to do about it so I was forced to go to my mom for help. She made me pull down my pants so she could put salt on and get rid of the leach but when she was doing it she sniffed my cock and smelling my girlfriends VAGINA looked up at me and said "you're moving with your auntie and uncle in bel air".
Posted by Carlton Banks on April 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
14
@13: Jumped the shark.
Posted by Layne on April 1, 2009 at 3:21 PM
15
Isn't that Penn of Penn and Teller fame?
Posted by downtown clown on April 1, 2009 at 4:18 PM
16
I hope those jeans don't ride low otherwise porky's curly pink tale will stick out.
Posted by oink on April 1, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Add a comment

Most Commented on Slog

 

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use