Since as early as the 1940s, teens graduating from Glastonbury High School have been separated by colors ~ boys wore black or blue gowns and girls wore white.
But the days of students graduating with different-colored gowns are over. After meeting with members of the school's Gay Straight Alliance Club, Principal Nancy Bean recently changed the policy. Now students at June's graduation will wear blue gowns with white sashes with the school's name and town seal embroidered on them. Bean announced the decision to students last week.
"A group of kids and teachers wanted to see the change," Bean said. "We no longer wanted to focus on colors that defined gender. They thought it was an antiquated tradition. Not everyone will agree with this, but this is the best for all kids."
Ginna Brelsford, co-executive director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network in Oakland Calif., said Tuesday she congratulated Glastonbury's club on its "successful campaign to change the divisive graduation gown policy."
"Such evolutions on long-standing policies are critical to creating a space for transgender and nonbinary students to thrive without worrying about how they fit into an outdated, unsupportive dress code," she said. "For students who are already out as transgender or nonbinary, this is a relief, and for students who are not out, this sends the message that they don't have to fit themselves into a box that they're not comfortable with in order to celebrate a great life achievement by walking across the stage and getting their diploma in front of their family and peers. We hope more schools who still have this divisive policy will follow Glastonbury's lead."
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From the superintendent:
We make administrative decision every day," added Bookman. "We make decisions in the best interests of all students."
Glastonbury is going insane...it was a nice town...oh well, I hope the citizens will wise up...(the town is a suburban towns just outside of Hartford. Most of the towns are homes on acre lots...).