A Texas teen was sent home from school and given an in-school suspension for returning from his Thanksgiving break wearing nail polish. Now hundreds of thousands have rallied to his defense, arguing against a school policy they view as deeply homophobic.
“Hello, my name is Trevor Wilkinson and I am a senior at Clyde High School,” began Wilkinson’s change.org petition. “Today, I got ISS (in school suspension) for having my nails painted. I was told that I will continue to get ISS until I take them off. It’s a complete double standard because girls are allowed to paint and get their nails done.“
More than 200,000 people have signed the petition thus far, which simply asks that the school board change the handbook and allow boys to wear nail polish.
“I am a gay male and I’m beyond proud,” it reads. “This is unjust and not okay. Help me show that it is okay to express yourself.”
More Than Nail Polish
Because of the perceived injustice and the stubbornness of the school, the story has received national attention - which all started from Wilkinson’s initial tweet.
Following the outpouring of support for Wilkinson, school superintendent Kenny Berry released a statement doubling down on the suspension. “The district conducts a diligent and thoughtful review of the dress code on an annual basis. That review process results in the development of a final dress code that is consistently implemented and enforced during the next school year.”
From the school’s point of view, Wilkinson was in violation of the dress code, and he’s welcome back at school once he applies a little nail polish remover, it’s as simple as that.
But Wilkinson and others view the inequity in the dress code - girls can wear nail polish, boys can’t - as reinforcing traditional gender norms and stifling expression at best, and discriminatory and homophobic at worst.
Wilkinson himself seems to view nail polish as more than just a style choice – he sees it as intrinsically linked to his LGBTQ+ identity.
"The fact that I’m even painting my nails right now means so much to me and it shows my growth. I would not change who I am for the world and I’m learning to fully love myself and be comfortable in my own skin and sexuality and I think that is an amazing thing,” Wilkinson said.
Gender Norms vs. Fashion Trends
Perhaps the school is just a bit behind the times. Men’s nail polish is an up-and-coming trend in fashion, and many celebrities, gay and straight alike, are donning the look. Nick Stenson, SVP of Ulta Beauty, says they’ve even noticed a major uptick in male shoppers.
This isn’t the first time gender norms in men’s fashion have made national headlines recently. When English singer Harry Styles donned a dress on the cover of Vogue, you’d be forgiven for thinking the sky was falling based on some of the reactions online. Conservative icon Candace Owens went as far as to call the “feminization” of men an attack on children and that we need to “bring back manly men.”
But as we pointed out on Facebook after conservative commentator Ben Shapiro took up the anti-dress argument, styles change over time.
For much of human history men wore dresses. The founders of the United States wore tights, heels, frilly shirts, and long wigs - the height of male style in their time. Now, all those garments would be viewed as women’s apparel.
Which brings us back to Trevor Wilkinson and his manicure. Ultimately, the school relented under public pressure and allowed Wilkinson back in school, nails and all.
What do you think? Should school administrators be allowed to tell boys and girls what to wear, or does enforcing traditional gender norms in appearance and dress do more harm than good?
48 comments
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Chris
Is nail polish on boys specifically mentioned in the official dress policy? If not, they're definitely overreaching by this discipline. Granted, the rest of the homophobes are no doubt happy to have an obvious target for their abuse, but still.... If it's specifically mentioned, it needs to be removed. As pointed out in the article, fashions change. Who is to say what anyone should or should not be wearing? I say these small-minded bigots need to get over themselves and quit pushing their biased agenda on everyone else.
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Anisahoni
If people would only spend their time and energy trying to help those in need, like those who are hungry, homeless, jobless, victims of racism, homophobia, injustice and other phobic responses to differences, imagine what kind of nation we would be living. This issue is so petty it is almost laughable except that a child is being discriminated against by misguided "adults." Wearing nail polish harms no one's eyes. I find that people, especially men, so offended and fearful of gender identity differences are usually denying their own homosexuality. Just a bunch of closet cases. People in the US need to get their priorities straight.
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Minister Mike
These are the "good" christians who scream about being subject to the religious laws of islam and other religions. What a joke.
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Rev Hannah Grace
After reading this article, my first thought was, 'Oh who cares?' Not who cares about the young man, but who cares about what another person chooses to wear? Why does this have to be such a big deal for some people? Do they feel threatened by someone else's choice of fashion? Why?
When I was in high school, it was all about female skirts being too short or male hair being too long. It's always something, isn't it?
As for the rules being the rules - well, the rules are stupid, as the young man pointed out very clearly, the females are allowed to wear nail polish but the males aren't - so that is a discriminatory rule, it needs to be changed. He doesn't want to change the rule just for him, but for all males, because males are being discriminated against with this rule. It's so obviously just common sense. Deep sigh.
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Minister Carlos Ricardo Walls
Education is extremely important.If they're in school allow them to get all the education they can.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Penn Gillette of Penn and Teller fame has been wearing fingernail polish for decades. It is a tribute to his mother. Let’s not forget it was the Texas and the GOP that tired to outlaw the teaching of critical thinking skills in grades K-12.
I think Jesus wore nail polish. If Jesus were attending school in Texas I wounded if he would be received an ISS? I suspect they would.
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John Condron
"Let's review. Society has set rules. Slavery is perfectly legal and ownership rights must be protected. Everyone should follow the rules to the best of their ability. "
Can you see, Thom, where your "reasoning" fails?
Sometimes, Thom, rules are WRONG!
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Thom
How does slavery come into play with a boy wearing nail polish? Oh, that is right, you have to change the subject and make someone sound worse than it really is. Your reasoning fails. If the rules say, no nail polish and he/she attends the school, the rules then apply. If he/she does not like the rules, they can leave. No review of this necessary, is there?
By the way, slavery is legal in some countries but not in the United States or the State of Texas.
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Thom
Lets review, the school has set rules. Everyone should follow the rules to the best of their ability. A boy breaks the rules and is punished. Where is the problem?
The problem is because he is gay he thinks, as done others, he can break the rules.
Not correct, everyone is subject to the rules whether gay, straight, confused, trans, whatever. So, follow the rules and do what you want outside of the schools grounds.
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Tom
As the late, venerable John Lewis said, "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America."
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T Kosse`
They are not the ones that "confused," but you are Thom. I wouldn't call it breaking the rules, it's more like he challenging the rules. Drawing attention to rules that are outdated and archaic, rules that really need to be updated and more in tune with the world we live in today.
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flugo
The school has a right to preclude anything that may disrupt/distract from/interfere with the educational process. That includes actions, wearing apparel, body appearances, etc. If the community doesn't like school policy(ies),, attend school board meetings, vote, take legal recourse. I support the school's ISS. This 'poofter', wearing colored nail polish would be a distraction, and thus, prohibited.. I tire of these LGBTQxyz-ers pushing the envelope; demanding absurd privileges; and expecting extra considerations. Their lifestyle is abnoral, decadent and intolerable.
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Tom
Your homophobia lifestyle is abnormal, hateful, and intolerable. I can't imagine a single scenario where someone wearing nail polish has distracted me because they had nail polish on. The only reason this is an issue in the first place is because the school disrupted the student's educational process by suspending them for the innocent, harmless act of wearing nail polish. I'm sorry to hear that you tire of people wanting to express themselves freely and be given equal rights but that sounds like a personal problem to deal with yourself.
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Daniel Gray
Just because you cant does not mean it hasnt happened. And there is such a thing as the law and the rules that you have to follow. You dont like it then you go through the proper authorities and people and get it changed, you dont go on the internet and start whining. Oh and one more thing...show me where in the Constitution it says that wearing nail polish is somehow a right. I will wait.....
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Tom
So men wearing nail polish is distracting but women doing so isn't? And either way why is it their fault that someone finds nail polish distracting? Double standards and victim blaming. Should women start covering their ankles again because it's distracting to men? No that's ridiculous. And no wearing nail polish is not in the Constitution but the Equal Protection Clause does say, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." If a state institution is preventing this person their freedom of expression you can argue that that is unconstitutional.
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flugo
'tomb': 'freedom of expression'. . . . . You gotta be kidding me! You dared to exhibit your academic deficiencies by printing your post?!
According to your illogical blather, if my 'expression of freedom' is to spit in your coffee; or to chop down the neighbor's peach tree; or to burn down the local church . . . .preventing such is unconstitutional?
We await for your next installment on the ludicrous, the absurd, and the ridiculous..
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Tom
There's a false equivalency between a person wearing nail polish and you spitting in someones coffee or chopping down someone else's tree or committing an act of arson. Wearing nail polish doesn't affect others like your examples do. Look it's clear there's no way to have a reasonable conversation with either of you so go ahead and keep making bigoted comments and showing your "academic deficiencies" that you have erroneously accused me of.
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Daniel Gray
still waiting for you tommy to say how this is some form of a violation of rights that men AND women made up this rule that you and this teen seem to be throwing a hissy fit about. Do you even live in this teen's school district? No? Then you have nothing to say about how its run, that is the elected officials job, not yours. And if you want to take that into a court and try and use the equal protection clause as a defense, then you are in for a MAJOR shock when the judge thrown it out with prejudice and then turns around and fines both you and the teen for wasting the courts time as well as court costs and attorneys fees. So before you start complaining it is unconstitutional I STRONGLY suggest that you actually take a college course in what your claim actually means and get ready for another shock, it does not mean what you think. even the ACLU on their own webpage have stated "Schools legally have the right to establish dress codes, but there are certain criteria that need to be followed. Schools are not legally allowed to discriminate against religion, politics or slogans on students’ clothing; however, [b]schools are allowed to dress code someone for something that counts as a “sustainable disruption,” so long as it is directly stated in writing in the dress code policy.[/b] and since it IS in the school code/rules for dress, then you lose.
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Daniel Gray
Naturally you have two people who are already calling names like a spoiled bunch of 1st graders. EVERY school has a dress rule and it clearly says that if you cause a commotion then you will be required to fix it. As reading, if the nail polish causes a commotion or a disruption in class then the gay student must stop wearing it...period end of story. It has nothing to do with being a "homophobe" as chris is trying to claim and no its not Nazi America as Jeanine would like for you to believe. Rules are rules and if you dont want to follow them then stay home but no you DONT get to come to a public place and cause a disruption and then try and make yourself out to be a victim. If Chris or jeanine cant seem to understand it then maybe they need to stay home as if you break the rules then you WILL be punished. And it makes no difference how many people signed his petition...unless they are tax paying residents in that school district then they have nothing to say about it
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Jeanine
To Daniel: Funny but I understand your statement.
ASSUMING that you have agreed to comply with specific guidelines (ie- academy, military, etc.) then tough luck - you agreed to it. Or in this case, your parents agreed to it.
Perhaps my point about Nazi America was not clear. When individuals and institutions are allowed to prescribe what others may or may not do ( even when what is being done is BY oneself - TO one’s own self,) then you need to think hard and long about who is doing the prescribing, policing and why?
Your personal body is yours. It does not belong regulated by any outside entity unless you WILLINGLY signed up for it. If you did, then I agree , follow the rules or be prepared for the consequences.
Assuming that the kid is being a stereotypical teenager and just making a point: (-Play along with me here... ) Girls can wear polish- boys can’t. What if it were a stereotypical male manicure with clear polish? Would he still have been ISS’d? If not, then the institution needs to specify the colors allowed. I think you probably see where I’m going. The guidelines don’t sound like they were completely thought out. ( from the little we know.) His testing the thought process may be a positive thing. It’s how we lead to the betterment of ideas and applications.
Anyway, this particular issue ( that of a male wearing nail polish) is practically inane but it bespeaks a social condition that is going in a poor direction. The next step could be forced vaccination, regardless of whether or not the individual can tolerate the adjuvants associated with the formulation. One loss of liberty has a very bad habit of leading to another and it is generally associated with incomplete forethought of just plain old control issues.
Stay well .
THAT is my point about. Nazi America. It should never have even gotten this far.
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Daniel Gray
funny but your post is so full of errors its really NOT funny.
First your body does not belong to you according to the US Supreme Court Henrietta Lacks decision. In that decision where the dna of a black woman was used without her or her family's permission, was used to make all kinds of medicine. The family of Miss Lacks sued and the SCOTUS ruled that you have no legal nor moral right to claim your body is yours to do with as you please.
Second, the child DID agree to comply with the dress code when he attended the school, so that he says this somehow violates his rights is absurd. Girls have been allowed to wear makeup in school for so long that it has set a precedent. And if you have not noticed, he isnt a girl so that does not apply to him either.
Males wearing clear nail polish? Not in the majority of the US they dont.
And where in the bill of rights does it say that a male can wear nail polish. I mean if you are somehow going to claim this is a right? And as for forced vaccination? They already do that as you have to have a series of shots before you are allowed to attend public school. In the Military you also receive a series of shots no matter if you want them or not. And if you go overseas even with a passport, you also must have a series of shots. So your point is what exactly?
Every point you have tried to make has been refuted. And yes it should never have went this far as the claimed gay child should never have thought that he could get away with this or flaunt the rules because he disagreed. He is not going to be allowed to wear nail polish and if this little thing gets him upset, then wait till he has to work for a living and they tell him how he can and cant dress or if he can have tats that can be seems...then you will hear him whine so much harder then now.
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Jeanine
I believe that the Lacks case was in the 50s or 60s. That makes us 60 years forward in learning.
A bit more contemporary: In the 1980s, family medical records were published without family consent. A similar issue was brought up in the Supreme Court of California case of Moore v. Regents of the University of California in 1990. The court ruled that a person's discarded tissue and cells are not their property and can be commercialized. Please note that it is “discarded” tissue, not the individuals’ intact person.
I did my health care doctorate 30+ years ago. When we were in clinic we had to abide by hygiene guidelines, - no nails above the edge, neutral polish only. The vast majority of the professional males in my class, at that time, got manicures...that included clear polish. Check your local spa.
You just sound like you have an issue with a gay teenager, pushing against things that he doesn’t see as equal. Believe me, the system and his parents will work it out or he’ll transfer schools or home school. It’s that simple.
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Daniel Gray
Makes no difference, the lacks case clearly stated what it stated. Only someone when finding out the SCOTUS has already ruled on this, would try and complain about how old it is. And all you have done is show that the SCOTUS has already ruled you DONT have any claim over your body no matter if its discarded tissue or not. Nice try but major fail.
And sorry not every male goes to a "spa", in fact I would bet any amount of money that less then 08% of the males in the US have ever set foot in a "spa" but I guess you had to try and bring that in even though it holds no reference to the discussion.
And no I have no problem with him, but he does NOT have any right to whine and cry about issues like this that have been part of the school dress code for longer then he has walked the earth or longer then his parents have. He sounds like a spoiled brat who is demanding he get his way or else. What exactly is he going to do when he has to work for a living and his boss tells him that he cant wear nailpolish? Is he going to whine and cry like he is doing now? I dare him to try it and he will be shown the sidewalk faster then he can blink. Rules are rules and if he does not like them then he is free to go to another school or place that has rules that are more to his liking.
But hey, continue to blow smoke if you want as your opinion here is clearly in the minority
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Jeanine
Archie - In the words of Chuck Missler-
“The only barrier to truth is the assumption that you already have it.”
I will continue to pray for you to release some of anger so that it doesn’t finish diseasing your life.
May you find peace and a little bit of joy in the short time that we call life.
Merry Christmas!
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Daniel Gray
And this is how a person responds (as Jeanine did) when they have been so clearly destroyed that nothing they say on this issue holds any meaning. so go ahead...nobody cares because everyone knows you dont like the rules.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
LOL you never destroy anything but your own credibility on these forums. You frequently as above invalidate any position you ever take in debates here by committing frequent failings that render your statements as only hate speech and attacks.
For example when you as you do frequently tell people what they have to do, that makes anything you can ever say past pr4esent and future here meaningless, as to do so in a debate for example by saying you have to do this if your going to do that. The moment the first moment you ever attempted to do that in a debate you forever lost any standing.
Frankly you are at best humorous in a sad pathetic way, but mostly just a xenophobe that we all who truly represent the ULC here know to be a true nothing and waste of the Universes energy that composes your crude physical form.
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Daniel Gray
the only one destroying their credibility here is you. You mouth off and even when shown you are wrong you just wont accept it. So please continue as all you are doing is showing the people that we should ignore you and your opinions.
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Brien
Dear Texas, I hope this note finds all of you safe and well. I am concerned for your mental and spiritual well being. I would like to propose to you this very well thought out intervention in the hopes that it will help to strengthen your spiritual and mental well-being. Please, hold on to something stable, such as a chair or table. Take a deep breath and straighten your spine, thus removing your heads from your anus area. Now exhale and take another deep breath of fresh air. Open your eyes now and feel free to join the 21st century. Your welcome...peace
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I hope you aren't clumping all of us Texans into one category Brien, because of the evil and ignorance of some politicians who this Republican never voted for. I'm often forced to vote for Democrats who personally aren't as bad as the Republicans running for office. And for those morons in our state government to file lawsuits against other states is beyond redundant.
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John P Maher
IF FEMALES WEAR NAIL POLISH or WHATEVER, WHY NOT MALES ??? FLLOW the DRESS CODE, GOOD for the GOOSE, GOOD for THE GANDER !
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Lionheart
Schools will be checking for genital and body piercings next. When did the institute of just going to school to be educated stop, and morality police take over?
🦁♥️
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Clay Serenbetz
Based on a helpful analysis of students' rights with respect to high school dress codes in the law review article below, the legality of the suspension is open to dispute. It probably depends on what Federal Circuit court you're school is located. The action of the student body at the Maggie Walker School in Richmond, Virginia is instructive.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://lawreview.richmond.edu/files/2016/03/Harbach-503.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjuqfTrw8ftAhWfHzQIHdEfAsgQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3d_GhNTJjEiib865jiW7JO
From: Harbach School of Law, University of Richmond, Vol. 503, 2/22/16, "SEXUALIZATION, SEX DISCRIMINATION, AND PUBLIC SCHOOL DRESS CODES" by Meredith Johnson Harbach * , p. 1039-1062
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
When I was fifteen years old, in 1978, I wore colored nail polish for about six months, and nobody ever told me to quit doing it. Sometime during that period I went from looking like a long haired hippy to having a flattop haircut, but still wore colored nail polish, even to the barbershop. And I didn't even think I was gay, although I prided myself on being a rebel, and now at 57 I've long since matured from that into simply being a non-conformist, in usually much more subtle ways. I even had my first girlfriend when I was fifteen, and she didn't seem to have a problem with me wearing colored nail polish, iether. Of course, everyone seemed to realize that I was a hopeless cause, and the kids at school had been calling me a trip since sixth grade. Of course, I had to quit wearing nail polish the following year when I jbecame a cadet in JROTC, and started singing (base-barotone) with the Galveston Ecuminical Choir. Had I been gay, I may have been ridiculed for wearing that nail polish, but I would have done it anyway, and support all those who do. I support all rebellion from established norms. We're all children of the same universe, and just another brick in the wall. I dare T Kosse to post the lyrics of that song.
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T Kosse`
Boys and girls both wear jewelry and have their ears and other parts of their body pierce, boys and girls even have tattoo, they wear their hair long or short or half long half short, or completely shaved off, they wear their hair in multiple colors. When I was growing up you wouldn't have seen that, but now you do see that every where, time changes and so does fashion, so I really don't see any problem with boys painting their fingernails. and if people are ok with girls dressing in male clothing, then what's the problem with boys wearing female clothing also. Since it poses no real harm to himself or to others and it makes him happy, then where is the problem.
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Daniel Gray
The problem Kossee is that there are rules set up and have been longer then this kid was a twinkle in his parents eyes. You dont get to join a school or a business and then whine because the established and set rules are not to your liking.
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T Kosse`
It isn't so much as the rules that the problem but narrow-minded people like you who make make the rules and I see you're still in your infantile stage who know maybe someday you might progress from wearing diaper before you die.
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Daniel Gray
No Kossee, its the simple fact that he is breaking the rules and has no legal or moral leg to stand on and yet here you are popping off as usual because you dont like the rules.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
Do you know what a Scofflaw is Daniel Gray? Do you know it is a term unique to american culture? Do you know it was born in the era of prohibition to define the tendency of most americans to outright ignore laws they saw as unjust, and to do so flagrantly and flaunt it, as so many did during that era.
A prohibition against boys wearing make up is as unjust and controlling as can be. They allow girls to use it, thus no reasonable argument can be made that boys should not be able to if they so choose. They only reason to take umbrage with this boy, or the position of personal freedom of expression that in no way is breaking any reasonable rule of polite society.
Your only positions are it is the rule and boys shouldnt wear make up, That is not a valid position. Its an appeal to authority and just blatant bigotry. Neither has any validity inherent in their position.
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Daniel Gray
sure do, every time I open a dictionary I see your picture next to the definition.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
I mean uhm awesome can I get a copy of that version for me and every member of my family? Golly jee willikers to think I am the face of the scofflaw in your eyes. I really am touched. No truly that is maybe the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me in my whole life. I can think of no higher compliment.
You all heard it here folks. Dee Gee thinks I am the living definition of the Scofflaw. Robin Hood, Zorro, Swamp Fox, and The Batman are now my peers!
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T Kosse`
Rule always can change .
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Daniel Gray
No the rules are set up by BOTH men and women so if what you say is true then why do you have women backing this rule against men wearing nail polish?
So go ahead and call names all you want, but your spoiled child attitude is not going to get it changed
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Daniel Gray
Not going to happen in your lifetime Kossee, get over yourself
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Ilmenheru Terikson
Due to the simple fact they do allow girls to wear make up and nail polish, it alone is enough to prove a clear double standard at work, which itself is more then enough to lead to a ruling in this kids favor, which with the end of the Drumpf era, and even his hand picked stooges proving the one advantage of the life time position is they dont have to bend knee to anyone, has shown that the law will keep slowly grinding on wards towards something resembling a fairer society then we currently have.
Your position of this is how it has been simply is not a valid on. Archaic tradition never has any validity in the face of progress. But insane conservatives like you just cant grasp that.
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Stanley Alan Marchand
makes me wonder what's next to ban!
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Christopher Michael Carlson
I think there is a fine line. Who really cares about some painted nails. Now my opinion on certain things can be controversial but don't take that as Homophobic. I have personal opinions towards some things these days that are valid but there are very specific reasons.
I don’t normally speak out on sexual alignment issues because quite frankly, it’s none of anyone else’s business, save the individual and the parents while that individual(s) live in their home, assuming no none is “forcing “ sexuality on another.
That said, nail polish poses no risk to anyone, unless you’re discussing its formulation. Do schools have the right to make that call? Rates right up there with suspending children for hand positions or in the age of Zoom school, what is seen in the background of a private residence.
Welcome to Nazi America.....and yes, I studied the rise of Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, etc. Time to wake up. Your liberties and what’s worse, - your children’s liberties are being seriously eroded.
We need the application of balance, sensibility and personal freedom ( not entitlement attitudes) upheld.
As far as I can tell all people have masculine and feminine characteristics, and we function best when balanced between those two polarities. Different people do that in different ways. What works for some won't work for others, and noone is better or worse for it. It has something to do with being true to ourselves; the way we happen to be.