Posted on 09/26/2008 5:14:21 AM PDT by Renfield
A Hamilton teenager is fighting for his right to wear makeup at school, but school leaders say it's a distraction.
"They're gender stereo-typing. He's being sexually discriminated against. Nowhere in the rules does it say that males can't wear make-up" says Mindy Ball.
The Hamilton mother says she stands 100% behind her son, 13-year-old Matt Allsup, an eighth grader at Garfield Middle School who wears black eye makeup, lipstick and fingernail polish.
But on Monday, he was told to wash the makeup off his face, with the assistant principal telling him it was distracting and against dress code.
"When I spoke to the principal," Ball says, "She told me it was distracting because of the black makeup and I said, 'Well, I'll get him pink,' and she said no, because he's a male, he's not allowed to wear it, the public don't accept males wearing make-up."
Allsup says, "None of my classmates found it distracting or anything – and it's not extreme. I don't see why I can't wear it."
Ball and her son point out that every student is required to wear a character badge – and one of the qualities it pledges is acceptance.
"It says, 'do you value the uniqueness of all students,' and they're not letting me be unique," says Allsup. "I don't see why we have to wear them if we're not able to express who we are."
Freedom of expression is what Matt Allsup and his mom say this is all about.
They vow to fight the school's ban on his black make-up and plan to hire an attorney to take the issue to court.
"I don't think it's fair if he has to take his makeup off. I think every student in the district should have to take theirs off," says Ball.
Hamilton City School District spokesperson Joni Copas says after Allsup washed his face, there was no further discipline.
She says if makeup is too harsh – whether on a boy or a girl – the student should be asked to wipe it off.
Is that Matt No-Balls, er I meant Matt Allsup??
Our kids go to school where they know what is RIGHT — THE HOME!!
Got Dad?
Is that my nephew? Oh wait! My nephew is 17. LOL!
I'm glad someone is saying this, rather than just "there must be some issue with his upbringing".
Lets see...You girlfriend's son (don't you think your girlfriend should have taken BETTER CARE of her son?).
Kicking him out was NOT the answer.
You never had “mods” in your neighborhood. They dressed just like this and often listened to The Cure.
Helping those with psychological problems is, sadly, now considered bigotry, discrimination, homophobia. etc. Those that think the boy has problems are bigots, intolerant and homophobes.
You never had “mods” in your neighborhood. They dressed just like this and often listened to The Cure.
You never had “mods” in your neighborhood? They dressed just like this and often listened to The Cure.
True...If a girl walked into school in boys jeans and a football jersey -- it is OK, if a boy walked in the same school in girls jeans -- it is WRONG!! Who cares!!
Sorry about the computer hiccup.
No dad in sight. Go figure.
My kids is same age as my cousins and the difference is night and day.
Makes my Mom very proud.
Me too.
Dude, we are old now. It sucks but at least we have more money (hopefully) then we did back then and we can now eat ice cream for breakfast, well I do.
child services need to come in and get this kid away from who ever is looking after him and then charge these adults
totally agree, why no kids have done this yet is beyond me.
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