Schoolgirl ‘told to cover up LGBT pride T-shirt’
An American schoolgirl has reportedly claimed she was told to cover up a T-shirt emblazoned with the words: “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning.”
Andria Zavala, an eighth-grade student, was told her outfit was “a distraction to other people and their beliefs” by her school’s principal, according to The Fresno Bee.
She complained to the California newspaper that she had been asked button up a flannel top in order to cover the t-shirt, an Easter gift from her mother.
Related: £36,000-a-year private school will now let everyone wear skirts
Andria said: “I also think (the shirt) stands for pride, pride in being unapologetically yourself and not having to apologise for your sexual orientation.”
(Credit: hottopic.com)
The student, who goes to Clark Intermediate School in Clovis, central California, added that she felt the school had double standards because other pupils who belong to clubs can wear clothing emblazoned with logos or expressing beliefs.
The dress code for the Clovis Unified Schools District, which runs Andria’s school, states: “All clothing shall be neat, clean and acceptable in repair and appearance and shall be worn within the bounds of decency and good taste as appropriate for school.”
It adds: “Extreme fashion that draws undue attention to the student will not be allowed. This includes distracting clothing, and distracting make-up, etc.
“Jackets and other apparel depicting professional sports teams shall not be worn. Jackets or other apparel depicting college or university teams are acceptable unless such team designations are associated with gangs or otherwise conflict with the standards for acceptable apparel.”
Related: 15-year-old tells politicians to support gender neutral school uniforms
A spokeswoman for the district told The Fresno Bee that the school’s principal had spoken to Andria about the T-shirt but hadn’t demanded she cover up.
She said the principal had told the student she should button up her flannel top if she felt the T-shirt could be a distraction to others.
“She posed the question to the student to let the student decide what her purpose was in wearing the shirt,” the spokeswoman said. She added that no disciplinary action was taken.
The T-shirt, white with black print, is for sale on the online clothing outlet Hot Topic for around $15 (£11). It is described as an LGBTQ T-shirt.
