Trevor Wilkinson, an openly gay teenager in Abilene, Texas, United States was suspended a few times for wearing nail polish since it didn’t conform to the clothing standard strategy.
He thought that the policy – restricting guys from wearing cosmetics and nail polish – ought to be more gender-neutral so that all students feel acknowledged regardless of their identity.
With the assistance of Lamda Legal and the ACLU of Texas, Trevor Wilkinson went to the educational committee gatherings to advocate for an arrangement change on Monday, i.e., 19th April 2021 the school locale cast a ballot to correct its approach.
With Trevor’s boldness and backing on the issue the high school district has now adopted a new gender-neutral dress code.
Six-Month-Long Fight
Trevor Wilkinson first painted his nails in October 2020 and was very excited about it, but his form of expression was not acceptable.
Thereon he went back home and for the next six weeks he attended the classes online because as Trevor himself said “I didn’t want to get made fun of but also didn’t want to get in trouble”
However, being an openly gay teenager nail polish was a way to express himself. Trevor soon started to feel get his nails done again, “I know it’s just a nail polish to others but it’s existence to me and how I express myself”; Trevor said in an interview.
After Thanksgiving break, Wilkinson retrieved to school with a new manicure and was again suspended. He started a petition on change.org to get help to raise a voice on this issue five months ago.
Recently, his demands got heard and his school will now have a more unbiased and gender–neutral dress code.
“Forcing students to follow gender stereotypes is outdated, unconstitutional and harmful”, said Brian Klosterboer, staff attorney of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Texas, United States.
Brian said that they were thankful that the school district changed its “discriminatory dress code”. He continued saying that this would not have been conceivable without Trevor's backing and dauntlessness on this issue"
However, this was not an easy battle to fight in December 2020, ACLU called on Clyde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) to ‘do the right thing’. After around four board meetings and many talks with the school authorities the school agreed to change its policy for one semester.
Trevor Wilkinson is that as it may wasn’t happy with the restricted policy amendment. Trevor believed that because he is graduating this year he will not be around to fall this and continue to battle, therefore, he included laws.
He said that therefore the attorneys got more included and sort of guided them a tad, and my school did the extraordinary thing and made a board of trustees to make this “gender-neutral dress code” and it got affirmed three evenings back.
Paving Way for a Gender-Neutral Environment
In November 2020 Trevor Wilkinson started a petition on change.org – “Allow Males to wear Nail Polish”. He said that it's a complete twofold standard since young ladies are permitted to paint and get their nails done.
He continued, Not exclusively is that however opportunity of articulation approval enough that a clothing regulation and strategy isn't okay. Today we are living in a world and a society that is too stereotypical that they have even associated clothes and makeup with a gender.
However, gender is a socially constructed role and behavior for different people. However, these norms should not restrict anyone to wear what they feel comfortable with.
Everybody has the right to feel acknowledged and valid irrespective of what society thinks. Trevor’s boldness is yet one huge example of how we should normalize not associating clothes and makeup with a specific gender.
Trevor’s petition got huge support of around 400,000 people all around the globe. This helped him having victory. Trevor said that he didn’t stop smiling a whole week. In an interview, he told “It’s Amazing! I think that the policy is inclusive to everyone and I truly believe that it’s gender-neutral.
He said, "There are still a few things that we could change but overall we are making so many great steps in the right direction. I am so proud of my school and everyone who helped me”.
Strangers’ Support, Backlash from Close People
Trevor Wilkinson’s battle, Government’s Support, Support of around 400,000 people around the world. In any case, he said a large portion of backfire he got from individuals locally those nearest to him. Trevor said it was hard for his schoolmates would taunt him and ridicule what he was doing.
But Trevor said he received a large amount of support from people all around. He also said that during the whole time his grandfather was a huge support and favored him in what he was doing. Trevor continued saying, “I know that he’s so proud and if can be half the man he is, I’ll be just fine”.
Written by – Tanishaa Mehdiratta
Edited by – Akanksha Sharma
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