Transgender high school student wins right to wear dress to Houston senior prom after being told it isn't in the dress code
A transgender student was won the right to wear a dress to prom after school authorities insisted the teenager wear a tuxedo.
Last week George 'Tony' Zamazal, 19, requested permission from an assistant principal to wear a dress and officially come out as transgender at Spring High School's May 11 prom.
However, the teacher said it wasn't permitted as it 'didn't fit the prom dress code'.
When Zamazal appealed, the
school refused to make the ruling alone saying they would need to
contact the board to make it a 'community decision'
But that move has now been thwarted and the school has agreed Zamazal should be allowed to wear any choice of clothing so long as it conforms to the dress code of being at least mid-thigh length.
The Spring teenager said she was grateful for the decision and now plans to wear the dress along with pump-style shoes, makeup and a wig.
'I've been waiting for this for a long time,' the teen told the Houston Chronicle.
'I wouldn't have felt comfortable at all showing up in a tux. I'm so grateful that my school has agreed to let me be myself on such an important night.'
'It was very relieving to find out they were going to let me without a fight,' Zamazal said.
The American Civil Liberties Union took up the case after Zamazal was told by the teacher in charge of the dance that she would have to wear a tuxedo.
'Tony has the right under both federal statutes and the U.S. Constitution to express her gender identity,' Adriana Pinon, ACLU of Texas senior staff attorney, told the newspaper.
'Students' legal rights aren't something that public schools get to put up to a vote. We're happy to see the school do the right thing.'
411 people have signed a
change.org petition on Zamazal's behalf calling for the school to back
down since it was launched in February.
Zamazal said she finally realized she was transgender in the last few months and wanted the prom to be a key moment in publicly embracing it.
'I really didn't think it was OK until recently and then it just became part of me,' she told KHOU.com
'It’s not okay to just tell people, they can’t be the way that they are. It’s not just a choice of the way you look. It’s more of who you are.”
Last week George 'Tony' Zamazal, 19, requested permission from an assistant principal to wear a dress and officially come out as transgender at Spring High School's May 11 prom.
However, the teacher said it wasn't permitted as it 'didn't fit the prom dress code'.
Permission: George 'Tony' Zamazal has won permission to wear her choice of dress to her senior prom
Relief: The 19-year-old says she wouldn't feel right wearing a a tuxedo
But that move has now been thwarted and the school has agreed Zamazal should be allowed to wear any choice of clothing so long as it conforms to the dress code of being at least mid-thigh length.
The Spring teenager said she was grateful for the decision and now plans to wear the dress along with pump-style shoes, makeup and a wig.
'I've been waiting for this for a long time,' the teen told the Houston Chronicle.
'I wouldn't have felt comfortable at all showing up in a tux. I'm so grateful that my school has agreed to let me be myself on such an important night.'
Agreed: Spring High School reversed their decision announcing Zamazal could wear a dress to the prom on May 11
Self-expression: The Spring teen says she discovered she was transgender this year
The American Civil Liberties Union took up the case after Zamazal was told by the teacher in charge of the dance that she would have to wear a tuxedo.
'Tony has the right under both federal statutes and the U.S. Constitution to express her gender identity,' Adriana Pinon, ACLU of Texas senior staff attorney, told the newspaper.
'Students' legal rights aren't something that public schools get to put up to a vote. We're happy to see the school do the right thing.'
Finding herself: Zamazal says she only realized she was transgender over the last couple of months
Relief: The school's decision to allow the dress was welcomed by the student and her supporters
Zamazal said she finally realized she was transgender in the last few months and wanted the prom to be a key moment in publicly embracing it.
'I really didn't think it was OK until recently and then it just became part of me,' she told KHOU.com
'It’s not okay to just tell people, they can’t be the way that they are. It’s not just a choice of the way you look. It’s more of who you are.”