Graduation traditions are something that student looks forward to for a long time. This can get a little tricky when our GSA students are torn being tradition and what makes them feel comfortable and what makes their family comfortable.
This semester I had a transgender student appear for her senior picture appointment ready and excited to feel beautiful for pictures that would last a lifetime. When she requested that she wear the black velvet dress top that all of the other senior girls posed with, she was denied. She was told that she needed a counselor's approval to do so. Being a Saturday, there were no counselors on call to approve her. This was a heart breaking and embarrassing moment.
With the amazing support of my administration, we resolved the issue for the student, but this is an example of what our LGBT+ students face when going through the senior rituals. Prom attire, prom dates, senior pictures, what shoes to wear to walk the stage, what name to announce, etc.
I would highly recommend to talk to your GSA upperclassmen to prepare them for these hurdles. This happens especially if their family is not supportive of their LGBT status but they are supportive of graduating. It's so important to plan and talk out scenarios prior to these events in order to avoid a senior year full of scaring arguments and disappointments.
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