by Anna C. Davis (anna@mssafeschools.org)
WESSON, Miss. – In a tremendous victory, Ceara Sturgis saw the end of a two-year battle with her former high school, Wesson Attendance Center. In 2009, Ceara was preparing for her senior portraits like most high school students her age. She took her photos in formal wear like many of the other students at her school. The only difference between Ceara and the other students – she was told that her attire was inappropriate for the photos. Ceara (seen here with her mother) wore a tuxedo for her senior portrait instead of the drape, a piece of cloth meant to mimic an off-the-shoulder dress. Today it was announced that two years later, Ceara has won her case against the school district which will have to institute a new policy. Students from Copiah County School District will now only be allowed to wear caps and gowns in yearbook senior portraits. According to the ACLU, “The school will also amend its anti-discrimination policy to add language affirming its commitment to following the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.”
Mississippi became the focus for queer youth activism in 2010, first with Ceara’s tux case and then Constance McMillen’s prom case. Ceara, Constance and MSSC’s Queer Youth Advisory Board were featured in CNN’s Gay in America series. You can find the CNN report and videos by Michelle Rozsa and Soledad O’Brien here.
These wins are tremendous for the state, but unfortunately they do not signal an end to discrimination in our schools. If you have a similar situation or need support tackling an issue please contact us at info@mssafeschools.org.
To see the ACLU report visit: ACLU.org
A cause to celebrate indeed. But, why can’t Mississippi simply accept that our Constitution provides Equal Rights for Everybody? Liberty and Justice for ALL (No Exceptions).
Thank you for fighting this fight for future students.
Congrats on the triumph! Equality is not limited to a certain dress size, sexual orientation, color or creed… Mississippi better get on board it’s a almost 2012 already, you’d think we as a people would be over the shock that some people want to dress how they want. Smh at ignorance. Kudos to you again and Jah blesd
[...] Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition announced the victory Thursday: In 2009, Ceara was preparing for her senior portraits like most [...]
YAY!!! There truly is room for everyone. There is nothing inappropriate in what she wore, just leadership’s outdated social and religious views of how men and women should identify themselves. Today’s young people do not, and should not allow others to make them feel they are anything but individuals and may express themselves as such. Brava, Ceara and family for standing up so that others don’t have to go through what she did.