Dynasia Clark graduated on Tuesday from Lamar High School in Darlington County, South Carolina – but was barred from the ceremony (WPDE)
A lesbian high school graduate has said she was prevented from taking part in her graduation ceremony because she did not wear a dress.
Dynasia Clark graduated on Tuesday from Lamar High School in Darlington County, South Carolina.
However, the student says she was prevented from walking onto the stage at the socially-distanced ceremony because she was wearing trousers, in violation of a dress code policy that stipulates women must wear dresses.
Lesbian high school student barred from her own graduation.
She told local news outlet WPDE: “I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal, because we’re already here, we’re already fixing to walk but now I can’t go because of a dress code.”
Of being told that she would not be permitted to take part Clark added: “I was angry more than anything because we worked hard to even have a graduation and then I can’t walk because I don’t got on a dress.”
The student said she opted to stand just outside the entrance to the field where the ceremony was taking place – in order to cheer on her classmates.
She revealed that rather than have an awkward gap when her name was read out, the school opted to simply omit mention of her from the ceremony entirely.
Clark said: “That was the part that made me more mad than anything because I was there you could have least called my name. It seems crazy to me. It seems stupid, like petty because it was just an outfit to me.
“It shouldn’t have stopped me from doing something what I have been waiting on for 12 years – I went to school. Everybody be happy for their graduation day and I couldn’t even experience that.”
School refuses to apologise over incident.
In a statement to WPDE, the school said: “The Lamar High School dress code for graduation has been in place for more than 20 years. We welcome students or parents who have concerns with any policy or procedure to meet with administration and discuss those concerns.
“In the past, when a student raised concern with the administration about the dress code prior to graduation day, the issue was addressed.”
Clark revealed that she plans to join the military after graduating, adding the she is excited to serve the country.