Fort Worth,TX-A Texas teen says wearing women's clothes got him suspended from school. Fort Worth sophomore Rodney Evans says he was called to the assistant principal's office and asked to remove his wig and heels.
Evans refused and received a three-day suspension.
"She gave me a letter stating that she wanted me to remove my wig and remove my heels, and she would allow me to stay at school," says Evans.
Three of Evans' friends walked out in protest.
"I feel he should express himself the way he feels and I don't think he should be put out of school for expressing himself," says friend Amber Birdow.
Evans said he has been wearing women's clothing during most of his time in high school and that he has received school discipline for it before.
"I've discovered myself to be transgender. I've come out as a transgender male. I just decided that I would like to go to school comfortably every day like every other student does," says Evans.
Evans' mother says he isn't the problem.
"Every time I turn around, they're suspending him because of the way he's dressed, him being himself, and I feel like they're gonna take away from his education and that's not right, that's not right at all," said Evans' mother Lenora Filipe.
Fort Worth school officials said they do have a dress code to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
Evans' mother says that she has been told that cross-dressing is a restroom issue for other boys.
She and Evans' friends believe it's just a case of discrimination.
A top school district official said student discipline is confidential and that she could not discuss the case, but she did add that no students were disciplined for clothing, only for disrupting class.
Video: http://www.wcsh6.com/video/news/player.aspx?aid=18106&bw=
Evans refused and received a three-day suspension.
"She gave me a letter stating that she wanted me to remove my wig and remove my heels, and she would allow me to stay at school," says Evans.
Three of Evans' friends walked out in protest.
"I feel he should express himself the way he feels and I don't think he should be put out of school for expressing himself," says friend Amber Birdow.
Evans said he has been wearing women's clothing during most of his time in high school and that he has received school discipline for it before.
"I've discovered myself to be transgender. I've come out as a transgender male. I just decided that I would like to go to school comfortably every day like every other student does," says Evans.
Evans' mother says he isn't the problem.
"Every time I turn around, they're suspending him because of the way he's dressed, him being himself, and I feel like they're gonna take away from his education and that's not right, that's not right at all," said Evans' mother Lenora Filipe.
Fort Worth school officials said they do have a dress code to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
Evans' mother says that she has been told that cross-dressing is a restroom issue for other boys.
She and Evans' friends believe it's just a case of discrimination.
A top school district official said student discipline is confidential and that she could not discuss the case, but she did add that no students were disciplined for clothing, only for disrupting class.
Video: http://www.wcsh6.com/video/news/player.aspx?aid=18106&bw=
