Long Island High School Plans Gender-Neutral Graduation Gowns
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island high school graduation ceremony later this month will feature gender-neutral attire.
But as CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, it's not without a degree of controversy.
Pomp and circumstance, and caps and gowns are beloved graduation traditions. Now, Schreiber High School in Port Washington is breaking with a tradition.
All students graduating from Paul D. Schreiber High School will wear blue gowns and white stoles, Port Washington school district spokeswoman Deirdre Gilligan told Newsday.
Previously, girls wore white and boys wore blue. The change was made in the interest of equality for transgender students, who now won't be forced to choose a color.
The new approach was made at the request of a student, who was not identified, Gilligan said.
The high school is one of several in recent years that have opted for the gender-neutral approach to reflect sensitivity toward transgender students.
The change has sparked heated debate.
"I think it's ridiculous. I think we should keep it the way it's always been," one student said, "Graduation has been this way for years. My mom wore white, my dad wore blue."
"I feel like everyone should have the right to choose," another student added.
Valedictorian Asena Ulug told the paper she hopes it becomes a trend at other schools and Juli Grey-Owens, of the Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition, agrees that it's a positive step.
Citing "requests and input from the student body," the district did away with the gender based gowns.
"It goes well beyond the transgender issue," the superintendent said, "The time has come to no longer separate students by gender, and to demonstrate a more inclusive practice at graduation."
Some wonder why gowns were ever based on gender.
"They are all graduating, and we celebrate them as graduates, not girl graduates, and boy graduates," Lisa Epstein said.
Island Trees High School is also doing away with gender based gowns for boys and girls.
The head of the LGBT Network, David Kilmnick, said transgender students sought his guidance about the gown dilemma.
"For transgender students who finally have the courage to come out and live their true identity, this is sort of like going back int he closet to have to put a gown on that doesn't match who they are," he said.
While it may be too late for this year, Kilmnick said he predicts that next year at this time, gender neutral caps and gowns will be a nationwide trend.
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