Ah, what would a school year be without some kind of dress code controversy, be it at the beginning or the end of the school year during prom season. Why am I not surprised about this one? This is the same Cobb County that gained a worldwide negative rep for having an Olympic preliminary volleyball venue taken away from it before the 1996 Atlanta Games because of an anti-gay resolution it passed in August 1993.
The resolution passed by the Cobb County Commission but rescinded in 1997 stated among other things "that the life style advocated by the gay community should not be endorsed by government policy makers because they are incompatible with the standards to which this community subscribes."
I found out about it thanks to Pam's House Blend and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. BTW, I'm going to use feminine pronouns in this story, especially since she stated in the article, "I don't consider myself a cross-dresser. This is just who I am."
Jonathan Escobar moved from Miami to Kennesaw, GA to live with her older sister and attend North Cobb High School. Her old school in Florida didn't have a problem with her dressing in feminine attire, but her parents did.
Before beginning school at North Cobb, Escobar asked administrators about the dress code and asked if she could wear items like high heels, and brightly colored wigs.
She was told there wouldn't be a problem, but four days after starting school at North Cobb High School the fun started.
Kids will be kids, and someone started cracking jokes at her expense. A friend stood up for her and unfortunately a fight ensued.
School administrators told Escobar that she was now in violation of the section of the North Cobb High School dress code that states:
"All students shall be required to…refrain from any mode of dress which proves to contribute to any disruption of school functions.”
Translation, Escobar was told she had to dress more like a male or she couldn’t come to school.
Her sister Veronica says she's shocked by what has happened.
"I didn't think they would take it this far," Veronica Escobar said.
Escobar says she wasn't a disruption in the classroom, but she attracted attention in the lunchroom. "Everybody was surrounding me," she said.
On her second day of school, Escobar says he was pulled out of class to speak with a police officer who told her he was concerned about the student's safety.
"They should've told the students to back off," Escobar said. "They should have never given me the option of homeschooling or changing who I am."
In her short time at the Kennesaw school, Escobar has apparently made a lot of friends. By Tuesday evening, nearly 900 supporters had joined a Facebook group called "Support Jonathan." Many were planning to purchase a bright pink T-shirt with the same phrase.
Escobar says she wants to be allowed to attend school and eventually graduate. But she doesn't want to stifle what she calls her art.
"If I can't express myself, I won't go to school," he said. "I want to get the message out there that because this is who I am, I can't get an education."