High School Student’s Gay Pride Shirt Deemed ‘Disruptive’

It’s hard to know where to draw the line regarding school dress codes. When it comes to phrases or images that depict certain ideas, there’s a grey zone in deciding what’s inappropriate enough to censor. Most, if not all, American schools prohibit the wearing of clothing that depicts weapons, drugs or alcohol, or anything considered “disruptive” to other students. While the former is pretty clear, it’s harder to define what a “disruptive” graphic consists of, because it can be very subjective. As such, there needs to be some sort of regulation in order to keep a balance between maintaining freedom of expression and the safety of students.

Because of such high subjectivity, regulation can easily become prejudiced. At Lynn English High School in Massachusetts, a student named Rachael Bavaro was asked to cover up and never wear back a shirt that read, “All the cool girls are lesbians.” The vice principal, Joseph O’Hanagan, who confronted Bavaro about the shirt, felt that it was inappropriate according to an article in The Daily Item. Bavaro was offended and took action by writing a letter to the mayor of Lynn, Judith Flanagan Kennedy, as she explained in her YouTube video entitled “All the Cool Girls are Lesbians’- Who I am and what really happened’ (username xoorachaelox473). Although the incident happened in January, the current brouhaha was sparked when Kennedy brought up the issue in a school committee meeting a couple of weeks ago (The Huffington Post).

Kennedy, after doing some research, agreed with Bavaro and stated that Massachusetts law wouldn’t have considered it disruptive, therefore a public school shouldn’t. Although, English should have been tolerant of such expressions regardless of state law as they have a Gay Straight Alliance, which should definitely mean that they support providing a safe environment for LGTBQ students. It was disgustingly hypocritical of the school to claim that such a harmless shirt is offensive, because the school is showing that they support different sexual orientations by having a GSA. English (or at least its vice principal and principal) isn’t as tolerant as it presents itself to be, and their true colors were shown when an actual, significant incident regarding equality came up.

Bavaro explained that wearing that shirt is no different than wearing an “I love boys” shirt, which she says “a number of girls” wear (The Daily Item). Shirts of this nature regarding heterosexuality would probably not be deemed offensive, but Vice Principal O’Hanagan described the shirt regarding homosexuality as “political” and “offensive” (New York Daily News). According to Bavaro, saying that “lesbian” is an inappropriate word is calling homosexuality inappropriate. She claims to be more offended by the unnecessary ruckus caused by O’Hanagan than anyone was by the actual shirt.

But, it’s hard to know when to declare something offensive or disruptive. Which opinions are allowed to be expressed in a school setting and which should be left unsaid? If the implications expressed on an article of clothing could make any student feel victimized, then it is disruptive. A shirt putting any certain person or group in a bad light is disruptive. For example, it may be your opinion that Christians suck, and everyone has the freedom to their own beliefs, but it shouldn’t be allowed to be advertised on a t-shirt in a school environment, where all students should feel safe.

Apart from directly insulting them, there are other ways to offend people. Some students might argue that an “All the cool girls are lesbians” shirt offends them as much as an “I love Nazis” shirt would, because both shirts might promote something they believe is wrong. But, potentially, almost anything could offend at least someone in some way. So, we need to establish what could be deemed ‘generally’ offensive for students to wear on their clothing.

This is a difficult issue to settle, because it is in our constitution that we have the right of free speech. But, we have to remember that free speech isn’t an absolute right. It is also the right of American students to feel safe in schools, so free speech needs to be limited. This can be in verbal speech or as depicted on clothing. It is more important for students to feel comfortable in their learning environment than for everyone to get complete freedom of speech. Students can exercise their right of free speech as long as it doesn’t compromise the feeling of safety of another student.

Things like stances for equal rights that should definitely be allowed on clothing. If it offends some people, then they’ll be offended by the whole country soon, because that’s where we’re headed. The current civil rights movement we’re in involves rights for people of every sexual orientation. This will bring justice to a whole new level, just as the African-American Civil Rights Movement did. Would a student be punished now if they were to wear a shirt promoting race equality? If we allow schools to take part in keeping America homophobic, it will be a lot longer before we see the significant change that we need.

If these issues can’t be solved, school uniforms will become a good idea. Personally, I think that this would solve a lot of issues. If schools can’t decide on the specifics of the dress code due to unresolved debates, then uniforms could come in to play. It would definitely be better if a school district came to a resolution that kept students’ individuality and safety at hand while still wearing everyday clothes, but, as we can see from the debate about Bavaro’s shirt, these issues aren’t that easy to solve. With uniforms, there would be no chance of offending anyone with their clothing. Yes, it does infringe on the freedom of expression for students, but, along with the lack of offense, it would cut out so much unnecessary bullshit that comes with fashion in grade school. Uniforms put everyone on the same ground in social and economic class when it comes to appearance. I remember worrying about what I looked like in junior high every day, because wearing Abercrombie and Hollister made you ‘cool,’ and I needed to make sure I filled that quota. Uniforms would have solved everything: no one would look cool, and no one would offend anyone.

Hopefully, public schools will realize that they don’t have to go to this extreme, and that they should just allow students to wear any clothing that isn’t offensive– and a shirt expressing gay pride should not be, without question, put into that category.

Annabella Palopoli can be reached at annabella.palopoli@spartans.ut.edu.