[OldManMac]

http://www.wsbtv.com/education/42543...p=irresistible

Students Outraged Over Censorship Of School Fashion Show

Fashion Show Next Friday At High School

UPDATED: 1:03 pm EST March 4, 2005

MILWAUKEE -- A fashion show is turning into a fight for expression at Milwaukee's High School of the Arts, Milwaukee television station WISN reported.




At the annual show two years ago, Joel Littleton modeled his women's-wear design.


But this year, he said the principal decided he could only participate if he wore men's clothing.

Littleton is a senior and said no one has questioned his cross-dressing in the past. He even wore a dress to prom.

Fashion show organizers asked the American Civil Liberties Union to step in. Littleton believes the decision violates his right to free expression.

"They didn't really give me a reason why he shouldn't be in the fashion show. All they told me was he has to wear gender-specific clothing in order to participate," student organizer Amaker Johnson said.

"It's an artistic forum, you know? It's transforming your body into something completely different. That is very artistic," Littleton said.

Late Thursday afternoon, Milwaukee Public Schools' central office told the station that the principal at the school would reopen discussions about Littleton's participation in the event.

The show is scheduled for next Friday night.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

What are these people so afraid of?

[Axo1ot1]

one letter: dubya

[Big Mac]

The ACLU really does tackle the important concerns of the day, does it not?

[analogika]

Originally posted by Big Mac:
The ACLU really does tackle the important concerns of the day, does it not?

Stop forcing your heterosexist agenda down our throats.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Must be awful living in such fear. I mean always having to worry about other people doing something that you aren't comfortable with or even corrupting other people. Who knew a guy in a dress had so much power.

[f1000]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
Who knew a guy in a dress had so much power.

I'll say.

[Big Mac]

Originally posted by analogika:
Stop forcing your heterosexist agenda down our throats.

LOL. That's supposed to be funny, right? There are substantive encroachments on civil liberties here in the United States, yet the ACLU is hot and bothered over a dude not getting to wear a dress to a private event. Aside from the question of decency, the ACLU's priorities are completely off-kilter.

[malvolio]

The ACLU is also involved in fighting against those substantial encroachments, yanno.

I bet this would not be an issue in the UK. They have a long tradition of crossdressing, as witness Monty Python, Benny Hill and dear old Dame Edna.
Of course, we Yanks have had some notable crossdressers ourselves. Who could forget the lovely and ravishing J. Edgar Hoover...

[effgee]

Originally posted by malvolio:
... I bet this would not be an issue in the UK. They have a long tradition of crossdressing, as witness Monty Python, Benny Hill and dear old Queen Mum. ...

fixed™

[sugar_coated]

Sounds like censorship, although the crossdresser in question could be so ugly when dressed up as a women that men who look at the him-clothed-as-her may not get an erection for months to come no matter how hard they try, if this were to happen then it is justifiably censorable.

[demograph68]

I have worn dresses before. It's not a big deal actually. I never wear dresses in public though, nor do I wear them often. sometimes at parties or whatever. Nothing new about it. Ed Wood was a cross dresser.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by demograph68:
I have worn dresses before.

Pix?

[demograph68]

Originally posted by malvolio:
Pix?

Ok, here's something. Yes, I'm wearing a dress but it's not clear in the pic. (I'm on the left)

[TheBadgerHunter]

I don't see why anyone cares. A guy wearing a dress defeats the purpose, but who really gives a crap?

[KeriVit]

I'm just not seeing why they are doing that to him... The principal sounds insecure, unless this guy in women's clothing causes some sort of an uproar or he fears for someone's safety (the model for example.)