HOUSTON -- A Nimitz High School senior says he’s being discriminated against because he dresses like a girl.
Cross-dressing student sent home View larger E-mail Clip More Video O’Rhonde Chapman, 17, was born a boy, but says he feels like a woman.
“I wear women’s clothing every day,” he said.
But Monday was the first time Chapman wore a wig and stiletto heels to school. The principal told him to change his clothing or go home. Chapman was told he was in violation of the school’s dress code policy.
“I would like to be able to wear my hair and everything and still be treated the same and have an equal opportunity to have an education, as others do. I ought not be segregated or sent home because of what I have on,” Chapman said. “I am losing out on my education. That upsets me. That upsets me because I don’t go to school to be judged.”
A spokesperson for Aldine I.S.D. said this has nothing to do with discrimination. He says the student violated the school’s dress code. If he follows policy he can return to school. The district wouldn’t release other information about this issue because as of Monday afternoon they had not received permission to do so from the teen’s mother.
The Aldine ISD dress code states that the hair length for boys cannot extend below the bottom of a shirt collar. It also reveals that wigs are not acceptable as a cover-up for hair not meeting the dress code. Even so, civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen believes he shouldn’t have been kicked out of class.
“He’s wearing a wig, there’s no doubt about that,” Kallinen said. “And his hairstyle, his actual hairstyle conforms. So, basically, he fits the criteria for wigs because it doesn’t say anything about hair length of wigs.”
O’ Rhonde Chapman says he plans to stand by his decision and not return to school unless his hair goes with him.
“I believe in fighting for what’s right,” Chapman said.
bemaurnice said on November 3, 2009 at 8:00 AM
as long as he acts like the rest of the girls who go to school here there shoulden't be a problem it's a new era and alot of people do things we all don't agree with but it is what it is
keiffers said on November 3, 2009 at 8:22 AM
kids have been going to school for years like this already - I remember even 20 years ago when I was still in school, there were several kids who cross dressed and no one raised a fuss about that. I think what probably happened was that some kid was uncomfortable with it and went and complained, and the school instead of accepting that everyone is different decided that they would do something to avoid potential complaints or legal movement from parents who dont want their kids around that.....now they'll probably have some other kind of legal action
lanac said on November 3, 2009 at 9:33 AM
This is such a complete waste. Reminds me of the boy in Bastrop who left school in 3rd - maybe 2nd grade - so he could have that rat tail growing out the back of his head. Talk about stupid reasons to decide not to go to school. This is just the same. He is limiting himself completely in life if he won't just dress within the dress code so he can get an education. Give kids and inch, they'll take a mile. Soon kids will be coming to school in thong underwear or full body armor robot suits complete with spikey metal helmets. Just get on with it. Get dressed, go to school, when you get out of school you can dress any whacked way you want.
countryboyaustin said on November 3, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Where will it stop? What if he also wants to go in the womans bathroom or what if he is assaulted in the mens bathroom because he is wearing a dress? These are all likely situations! WAKE UP IDIOTS!
muchadoboutnotin said on November 3, 2009 at 7:22 PM
I got into a lot of trouble when I was a child. Looking back, I feel I acted very stupid and it hurt my schooling. Now that I'm a parent and I can look at the last 3 generations of children in my family, and my daughter, I can see that people have increased the rights of children in school over the past 30 years. This is not good for them. We need to give some power back to the school administrators. Children do not have the same rights as adults, nor should they. They are at school to learn. One might say they have a right to self expression. However, everyone knows that children and teenagers can be very immature. Most wouldn't know how to deal with this, and that is a distraction. This diminishes everyone's education. If you think I'm wrong, take a look at grades and passing data for private schools with strict dress codes. This type of distraction is better removed from the situation. Either way this kid has a problem and they will only get larger as he gets older.
lanac said on November 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM
He may as well only have one eye, with that wig.