MS Rising Coalition asking Harrison County School District for change in graduation dress code

The Mississippi Rising Coalition confronted the Harrison County School District at the school board meeting.

“I know a man that never wore pants… and he wore sandals… would you keep him from graduating? His name was Christ Jesus.”

An outcry from LGBTQ+ people and allies at the Harrison County School Board meeting Monday asking for a change in policy after a transgender girl had to skip her graduation because she didn’t wear pants.

Now, LGBTQ+ organizations in Mississippi are asking the Harrison County School District to not let it happen again. MS Rising Coalition President Lea Campbell said, “We want the Harrison County School District to change its graduation dress code policy to remove any gendered language. We feel that students should be able to dress according to who they are and not according to gender stereotypes.”

The main goal of the requested change is to make gender non-conforming students comfortable to wear what they like, but something brought up often was that anyone should be able to wear what they want on graduation as long as its appropriate. “You’re in there a sea of gowns and caps. You don’t have to know what anybody is wearing under it.”

“That they can wear the clothing of their choice. It’s such a small thing to ask.”

Hunter Thieme attended D’Iberville High School and began his transition after graduation. He’s not surprised the student, who goes by L.B., wasn’t allowed to walk, but he feels her pain. He wants other kids who have worked hard in school to get to cross that stage. “It’s a kick in the face to somebody who had successfully gone through high school without being bullied for being weird or gender non-conforming in anyway. So, when you’ve done all of that and you see the superintendent deny you your right to walk, it shows to every other trans student ‘Hey, I’m not accepted here. I’m definitely not loved.'”

Changing the graduation dress code was not on the agenda for this meeting and the board did not comment on the matter.

However, Mississippi Rising Coalition is hoping the board will consider it at the next meeting.