US lesbian teenager allowed to wear tux to prom

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

A lesbian teenager from Illinois has been given the right to wear a tuxedo to her prom.

Belinda Sanchez, a student at Proviso East High School, was initially denied the right to wear the garment by principal Milton Patch.

But when she contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, the school told Belinda she could go to the April 22nd party in a tux.

John Knight, director of the LGBT Project at the ACLU of Illinois, told the Chicago Tribune: “This sends a negative message to other students that they can’t express who they are.

“It’s a First Amendment right, a free speech right, and that includes her right to send a message through wearing male clothing that she doesn’t think women should be restricted to traditional female clothing.”

Belinda said she was happy with the decision and told the newspaper: “I didn’t just stand up for myself. I did this for everyone who’s in a position like I’m in.”

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