Two Long Island high schools are revamping their graduation attire for this month’s ceremonies — falling into line with guidance issued last year by the state Department of Education, aimed at ending “gender based” practices, out of sensitivity to gay and transgender students.
Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington announced this week that it will be getting rid of a requirement for boys to wear blue gowns and girls to wear white gowns. Instead, all students will wear the same gender-neutral gown.
A spokeswoman explained that the decision was made at the request of a student, who was not identified.
“As a progressive school district, we believe that the time has come to no longer separate students by gender and to demonstrate a more inclusive practice at graduation,” said Port Washington Schools’ Superintendent Kathleen Mooney in a statement to FiOS1 News.
Meanwhile, Island Trees High School graduates will all wear the color red. Previously girls wore white and boys wore red. School officials did not specify why they made the change.
Last July, the New York City State Education Department issued a 12-page guidance meant to help school districts foster an inclusive environment, “safe and free from discrimination,” where LGBT students would be more comfortable. The document, which draws from “real life” examples from New York-based students and schools to illustrate the guidelines, explicitly asks schools to end gender-based practices that could have a stigmatizing effect on students (like requiring girls to wear dresses), if those don’t serve a clear educational purpose.
Cited as an example of such alienating practices is graduation clothing:
This document complements the 2010 Dignity for All Students Act, passed to protect students from discrimination, intimidation, and bullying.
Schreiber High School’s graduation will be held on June 23, and Island Trees’ on June 24.
