How High School Proms Became Battlegrounds for Gender Identity Rights

[Shana A]

How High School Proms Became Battlegrounds for Gender Identity Rights
by Conswella Bennett
EDGE Contributor
Sunday Mar 6, 2011

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc3=&id=117050

LGBT teens are like all other teenagers trying to make their way through that rite of passage known as the American high school. They want to be accepted and they want to be able to participate equally at school ceremonies such as homecoming and the prom.

The royalty "crowned" at these events has become in our time a source of controversy, thanks to a handful of brave students who are challenging gender norms. The result has been lawsuits, some shameful shenanigans (see Mississippi), and some very gratifying results for our side.

[joshany12]

the bit that gets me is that they aknowledge that both staff and students generally accept him as male, however he wont be accepted for such an insignificant event for them. my question, if they are allowing him to wear male uniform ect surely that suggests hes allowed to use male bathrooms/ change rooms ect. the fact they allow him to act as male for something like that but not be prom king just seems to be stupid. he just wants to be seen as a guy, not reminded that he is trans. 

[tekla]

The idea of a prom king for 18 year old kids seems dumb.  Stop the entire idea.  Should have been stopped 30 years ago.

[joshany12]

i would agree, but i know if i were in the states and i got made prom queen, it would make me feel so secure that i was seen as female, would make my life XD