Damien gets to walk in his black robe

[aleon515]

Yesterday there was a special graduation held at University of NM LBGT center for him. (He's the kid who the Catholic school he was going to would not like him walk in a black robe). It was such a cool event and he did a great job with his little speech even though he was nervous. I have seen him really grow as I started hearing about this story in April. I never have heard about  Kim Coco Iwamoto and she was pretty awesome too. It was amazing community experience.

http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/transgender-teen-attends-special-graduation-ceremony/-/9153728/20369216/-/ujoc8s/-/index.html?


--Jay

[Jamie D]

Thank you for posting this.  I very much enjoyed the video news report.

[aleon515]

Nice when a something turns out so well, as it usually doesn't happen that way. For acting maturely and graceful under pressure, Damian gets noticed and I think has grown tremendously.

--Jay

[DriftingCrow]

Also related:

Chris Calderon-Perez, Ohio Transgender Teen, Gains Right To Wear Girl's Graduation Robe
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/ohio-transgender-graduation-robe-_n_3378931.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
Author: Glennisha Morgan Source: Huffington Post

"Great news for Chris Calderon-Perez: the 17-year-old Fostoria High School student has won the right to wear a girl's graduation robe to her 2013 commencement ceremony. As the Columbus Dispatch reports, Calderon-Perez was initially told that she would would have to wear the male graduation attire -- a shirt and tie -- paired with a black robe as opposed to a red robe for women."

"This joyful situation happened almost a month after a New Mexico-based transgender student Damian Garcia was nixed by his school in regarding to walking during his graduation ceremony in the cap and gown designated for boys."

[aleon515]

Thanks LH,

The cases are a bit different as Fostoria HS is a public school. If Damien had graduated from the public school in Albuquerque there would have been no issue. It also seems that the district/school in Ohio DID have a transgender policy, but didn't want to follow it. (Does this sound familiar?!)

--Jay