Facebook Twitter eEdition Your News Business Directory List Business Classifieds Subscribe NEMisJobs NEMissPreps NEMSHomes NEMSDeals

Lesbian student files suit in tux photo fight
by The Associated Press
18 months ago | 2403 views | 14 14 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print
In this Oct. 17, 2009 file photo, Ceara Sturgis, 17, speaks to reporters at the offices of the ACLU in Jackson, Miss. Sturgis is suing a rural Mississippi school district, over a policy banning young women from wearing tuxedos in senior yearbook portraits. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Sturgis, claiming the Copiah County district discriminated against her on the basis of sex and gender stereotypes.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
In this Oct. 17, 2009 file photo, Ceara Sturgis, 17, speaks to reporters at the offices of the ACLU in Jackson, Miss. Sturgis is suing a rural Mississippi school district, over a policy banning young women from wearing tuxedos in senior yearbook portraits. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Sturgis, claiming the Copiah County district discriminated against her on the basis of sex and gender stereotypes.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
slideshow
JACKSON — Another teenage lesbian is suing a Mississippi school district, this time over a policy banning females from wearing tuxedos in yearbook portraits.

Ceara Sturgis' dispute with the Copiah County School District started in 2009, before Constance McMillen made headlines for her fight to have a same-sex prom date and wear a tuxedo to her school's dance in a different district.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday for Sturgis, contending the Copiah schools discriminated against her on the basis of sex and gender stereotypes.

Before Wesson Attendance Center yearbooks were released this year, school officials said Sturgis' photo in a tuxedo wouldn't be included. Her name also was left out of the senior section.

District Superintendent Rickey Clopton didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
Share This Article |
similar stories

District still says no to lesbian in tux photo | 2 years ago by Shelia Byrd/The Associated Press

Lesbian fights to appear in tuxedo for yearbook | 2 years ago by Shelia Byrd/The Associated Press

UPDATE: Miss. teen gets second chance at 'prom' | 22 months ago by Shelia Byrd/The Assocated Press

OPINION: Gay student has rights to suit herself | 2 years ago by Patsy R. Brumfield/NEMS Daily Journal

Judge: Prom not required in Itawamba | 22 months ago by Chris Kieffer/NEMS Daily Journal

Comments
(14)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
kmydja
|
August 18, 2010
I thought Majority ruled?If they do not want her to wear a tux, then don't wear it.Mississippi IS NOT behind the times! Are we supposedly behind because we have MORALS that other parts of the country do not have?
Reply
Report Abuse
F_Town_in_da_house
|
August 17, 2010
who's that little boy in the picture? someone's going to think he's a gay.
Reply
Report Abuse
F_Town_in_da_house
|
August 17, 2010
she shouldn't wear a tux anymore than a woman should be allowed to wear pants or other cloths that is wore mostly by men. men should wear skirts either. Women don't cut your hair, wear makeup, or wear mens clothing. men shouldn't wear womens cloths, make up, have long hair, and you get the message.
Reply
Report Abuse
Mr.T
|
August 17, 2010
God is not a respecter of people. Not even those that are in the legal or medical professions.

God is the one that considered homosexual behavior as deviant, and HE is the supreme judge. Not us. Our opinions mean nothing to Him.
Reply
Report Abuse
thebeaver32
|
August 17, 2010
WRONG on all counts, Mr. T. Being gay is not considered "deviant" by either the legal or medical profession. Only in the minds of prejudiced and bigoted people.

Now people having sex with a 2-year-old: THAT'S deviant. And they should be properly punished for it. But please do not equate being gay with child molesting. Statistics show that the LARGE majority of child molesters are straight.
Reply
Report Abuse
Mr.T
|
August 17, 2010
I see no reason at all that the people of this state or any other state, should accept this deviant sexual behavior as normal. Their behavior is NOT normal. That is why they are rightfully called queers.

If you truly believe that people should be free to act on abnormal sexual desires, then you also probably see nothing wrong with the 3 juveniles that were arrested today, in Memphis, for having sex with a 23 month old.
Reply
Report Abuse
earlwayne
|
August 17, 2010
looks like a lesbian to everyone else.
Reply
Report Abuse
WTFDude
|
August 17, 2010
lurchaddams: I thought that TOO!!

Reply
Report Abuse
lurchaddams
|
August 17, 2010
She looks like Justin Bieber.

I am not sure if that means she looks like a guy or he looks like a girl.

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID20836/images/ex_justin_bieber_hair.jpg
Reply
Report Abuse
WTFDude
|
August 17, 2010
Fireman17: You're right. Mississippi is WAY BEHIND in the area of tolerance.

This issue was actually the first filed. The Itawamba case came after this one.

I think that the school has really hurt their case by not even including her name in the senior section.

In my opinion, that shows a desire to completely exclude her and it expands the issue beyond that of just a picture.
Reply
Report Abuse
Fireman17
|
August 17, 2010
Mississippi needs to catch up with the rest of the USA its 2010 not the 1930s anymore... This is the 2nd lawsuit within a year over issues dealing with how someone lives there life.. If this person wanted to wear a Tux for her photo that is her the school should be saying they can't!!
Reply
Report Abuse
WTFDude
|
August 17, 2010
tupelojoe81: Tru dat!!
Reply
Report Abuse
tupelojoe81
|
August 17, 2010
she's definately the man in this relationship.
Reply
Report Abuse
WTFDude
|
August 17, 2010
I think the school might have hurt its case by not even including her name in the yearbook. If she's a qualified senior at that school then her name should have been in the senior section.

Reply
Report Abuse