Tux or Dress?

LGBT Prom what to wear what not to wear...

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Summary:

In the article Prom Resource Kit, by GLAAD a media organization that strives to tackle tough issues, and promote dialogue on LGBT issues. This particular article discusses how LGBT students are affected by prom and what they have and have not been able to do in the past.

Important Passages:

• LGBT Students at Prom
• “Prom is an important ritual for teens everywhere, and many LGBT youth find new and exciting ways to make prom relevant to their lives and communities. New traditions include Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) members attending prom together, nominating LGBT friends for prom royalty, and volunteering for an inclusive prom planning committee. However, stories featuring LGBT students often focus on controversies connected to couples attending the dance together or responses to student dress. Though many students use clothing to express their personalities at prom, there is often an extensive amount of coverage devoted to what may be perceived by some as the unconventional clothing choices of LGBT youth. For example, a transgender young woman may wear a dress or a lesbian youth may plan to attend in a tuxedo.”
• Analysis
• I think clothing is a constant issue for those of the transgender community. A recent example, Bruce Jenner, who just officially announced his transition into becoming a woman faced tons of questions about his appearance, what will you be wearing from now on, who will do your makeup? Does it really matter? No. Just for Bruce Jenner, it shouldn’t affect students at these proms either it is their first amendment right to dress however they would like.
• The Emergence of Gay Prom
• “More and more LGBT community centers and youth organizations across the country are holding what are commonly referred to as “gay proms.” As during other proms, teens at these events dress up, go out to dinner, and pose for pictures. The only difference is that the participating students are allies or members of the LGBT community. Gay proms often draw youth from the local region instead of just one high school, providing an opportunity for diverse groups of LGBT students from different communities to come together and socialize. These alternative proms give youth an occasion to enjoy prom in a safe and supportive environment that affirms who they are.”
• Analysis
• I think the alternative proms are effective because they allow the students to be comfortable in their own skin and express themselves however they’d like. Some may argue that it is offensive for people to have “segregated proms” before they are able to join a real prom these allow them to become comfortable and develop how they want to portray themselves.
• High-Profile Stories
• “Several high-profile stories of LGBT youth at prom have gained national attention in recent years. Although these stories merit attention and consideration, please note they are not fully representative of the prom experiences of all LGBT students. Many of these stories have centered on students who have chosen to express their identities in non conforming ways and were met with resistance – and even anger - from administrators, teachers or parents.High-profile cases tend to center on the conflicts and occasional legal battles that may arise when LGBT couples are barred from attending prom together. In 2013, Missouri teen Stacy Dawson successfully challenged his school's discriminatory policy against same-sex couples at prom, while students and parents at a local Indiana high school received media attention for trying to create a prom that bans gay students from attending. These high-profile stories often set the tone for coverage of LGBT students at prom, and it is important that they include fair and balanced voices on LGBT issues.”
• Analysis
• Today there is a growing issue of the constitutionality of dress code and LGBT rights. In June, the Supreme Court will be hearing whether or not the case will be legal in all states along with that policies will be written on how schools will have to deal with school policy issues. These high profile stories are important in order to make students realize that they are just as equal as the next person and should be able to express themselves.

Further Research:

• I will conduct further research by myself in the summer when the supreme court case decision on whether or not same sex marriage is constitutional.