Know Your Rights: School Dress Codes 

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I got dress coded on a free dress day, (usually uniform) for a “weirdly fitting shirt”. I have pretty bad scoliosis, so of course it’s gonna fit funny! My back is funny! Like come on 😂

I did not know, that there was some laws, about this. Back in my school days in the 80s, when I registered for my senior yr, I had long hair, and the principal told me to cut my hair, since I was a boy, and boys have short hair, so I pointed to a girl that had short hair, I told him that he should send her home since she had short hair and that long hair is only for girls. He told me that women can have any type of hair style, but not for boys. Wow! So I had to go home and cut it.

“Have a gay day everyone and Bi for now”

My school is very homophobic and transphobic. what’s ironic is that half the school is LGBTQ+ lmao But seriously thanks. There is a school dance coming up and I was trying to decide whether to wear a dress or tux. I was afraid the school wouldn’t allow it but now that I know this I think I’m going to wear the tux.

I don't even understand how hair length can be up for debate as it is a question of a person's integrity

Thank you, professor pride. I’m a cis man from Colombia who always got dress coded for having long hair. The instant I graduated, I grew out my hair. I could never understand why males couldn’t have long hair.

I was in a private school most of my childhood education. I'm a straight girl and the school tried to force me to wear a skirt. Made no sense when the dress code allowed for girls to wear pants. Long and short of it, people should be able to wear what they are comfortable in wearing regardless of how they identify.

We went on a school field trip to this camp and they allowed boys to be SHIRTLESS to swim but girls couldn't show midriffs. It was a super sexist rule and I knew several girls/afab kids who had to buy entirely new swimsuits. I had to wear a rash guard over my favorite swimsuit cuz of this.

Currently going through a movement at my high school to fix the dress code ! We got to our 1,000 signatures goal on the petition and we'll be doing a walkout soon

honestly I wish School could teach LGBT history instead of just the same stuff that they always be teaching kids

i go to an arts school that doesn’t have a dress code at all, it’s hilarious what come of these mfs show up in i love it so much

I can't wait to show this to my parents because we've been wondering if I'll be able to wear dresses and skirts this year, thanks so much for making this video!

My friend got dress coded for wearing a shirt that said "beauty has no size" like come on how can they dress code that. I saw this video showed it to my friend and we are just going to start out by talking to the principal and try to get this changed, because they can't do stuff like that.

I wish I had known this stuff back in school, as a girl I really felt disrespected, compared to how the boys were treated regarding dress code.

My school just made all of the teachers take down their pride flags from their classrooms. This helped a lot!

I wish I had known more of these laws back when my middle school banned our pride stuff for being "political" while they had no problem with people decked out on homophobic trump stuff

Yeah in England we have to wear a certain uniform and everything looks the exact same and it’s depressing. You can wear accessories so I wear a few wrist stuff.

How far we have come (for the better) but we still have such a long way to go. When I went to school in the 70s early 80s (in the UK), I wanted nothing more, as a mtf trans person, than to follow the female dress code, but back then this was a huge no no! I would have been humiliated and beaten by the teachers, let alone the other kids.

Thankfully my school is very light on dress codes even though we have a uniform the only thing they hate is if you have no tie, lanyard, skirt (or if it’s on but above your knees) they even allowed people to wear their pride flags as capes for the entire month of June and it was so cool seeing people walk around with their flags even seeing cis straight supportive boys wearing skirts as well :D

I find it rlly cool how different people wear the same thing and adapt it to make it unique to them. I wear a long sleeve shirt under my uniform, longer pants, bracelets and gloves, technically I don’t violate any of the rules. Also an FTM friend of mine wears a male uniform, and we go to a catholic school.

I live in an area that is extremely secluded from society. Everyone knows about gays, but they know nothing about flag colors or actual LGBTQ terms such as aromantic, so despite going to a private Christian school, I can wear an asexual pride flag and only a few people would notice/understand lol The only bad thing is if they figure out, there's a chance I could be expelled, and my parents are extremely Christian but against LGBTQ, so they wouldn't even argue with the school most likely.

This helped a lot! I had been wondering if it was allowed for the people in my spanish class to discriminate against me, or are there rules in place to help prevent that? I came out to them a few days ago (I'm trans FTM but not out to my mom so I'm not allowed to dress like a boy) and they made fun of me and mis-gendered me on purpose.

Okay, I understand not wanting people to show up in undies, but why was I dress coded for my shirt being too big and showing my shoulder when I was six....?? That's creepy.. Even creepier, they said it distracts the male students and teachers. My six year old shoulder distracted that creepy janitor that most likely BARELY had a background check enough to make me change..? (I know because my mom helped there and they didn't do background checks at all/very little)

My school have dress code for uniform and hair. So female have the female uniform and a Bob head while males have male uniform and a shaved. The dress code feels more like a prison but thats the norm in my country and leaves no room for non binary expression nor any expression. Once I wanted a pixel cut that looks like a boy cut but the baber was worried that it will not fit the dress code cause of the strict rules. I'm happy that other countries have the rights and protect the lgbtq+ community :D. I just hope one day this will reach Malaysia ;^;

Question: so in the video, the beginning specifically, Matt mentioned what the requirements and limitations for what is and is not a distraction in the classroom, and he said that schools can only dress code someone if it shows an immediate danger to the wearer and/or other students/staff.. so say for example I wear a shirt that says "please help" what would happen then? This is a theoretical situation of course

I'm in the UK. I wish that these laws were included in our dress code rules. I had to fight to wear mens shirt, trousers and high tops mens shoes : on the bases that "girls dresses didn't fit". I only remember ever only having 1 LGBT talk in high school (years 9-11). When I did speak to someone about my feelings it was pushed away and disregarded as "you are a teenager who is confused and only bringing the topic up now because of this LGBT meeting". I was bullied at my high school by the staff and students. It was a boarding school for the blind/partially sighted. Even my house parents (staff in the dorm houses) bullied me. They were the worst at it. It got to the point that if I hadn't of been pulled out after my exams in year 11 (ages 15/16) i would have committed suicide and I tried. Luckily I'm fine now as a 24 your old. I'm just furious at how I was treated yet ofsted (education government supervisory organisation) deemed the school as the best in the area. (it's 3 & 1/2 hours from home. i had to stay 3 weeks of every month: except, holiday or the weekend of the 4th week). If we had these rules that you had mentioned in the UK schools, (i think they do now but not so much when I was at school. They do sex Ed in year 7+ whereas I had it in year 10). i think things would of been a little easier. My gender and sexual orientation was only 1 of the things they scarred me about. I want to be a teacher myself but I will be one who will teach diversity and acceptance for all, including the LGBT. Thank you for your video. I love your videos. I hope that your messages / videos reach to all across the globe. 😊🙏 Xx

My high school is really chill with only about 2% of the entire staff actually cared everything was just don't come naked we were allowed to break the rules we could come to school in Pjs no one would care

a bit after this came out, someone at my school started wearing a rainbow bracelet to school

I have a friend who wore a suit to school (they're demigirl) and got dresscoded for it, while a day later there was a cis boy walking around in a suit perfectly fine. Schools need to do better. :/

Can someone find out if this is the same for Australia 🇦🇺 too?

my school had/has a rule that males cannot wear jewelry. in the handbook it says that males seen wearing jewelry (especially earrings) at school or school events will face *saturday school*. last year i saw a teacher tell a boy that he couldn't wear his jewelry. this year males can apparently wear earrings now, but nothing has been done officially and the handbook is the same. this is something expected from where i live. rural southern united states. i was surprised when online friends who lived in other places told me that their school was accepting. i thought it was rare, until i realized that a lot of schools in the united states have things like gsa, pride flags/posters, gender-neutral bathrooms, etc. i don't know if you're going to see this, but thanks for making these videos. If it weren't for LGBTQ+ creators online, I would be homophobic, transphobic, and confused.

Thanks loads for this video! Also, First time being early to the channel!! :D

Wear your Gay pride T shirts and Rainbows ! Just be yourself and be proud of being gay. Thank you Matt for ALL of this very important information.

Not quite the same topic, but why don't schools teach us correct history? My school tried to tell me, "The Natives were friends with the colonizers."..... Is this even LEGAL? Also, at my old school, my teacher told us the world is only few thousand years old. I understand it's her religion.... But she taught us history.. She also said dinosaurs weren't real ad to skip questions about that sort of thing. When I ignored her, she gave me bad grades for zero reason. I'm too good for that because I passed anyway even though it should've been a 100.

lmao my school doesn’t have a dress code except for “whatever isnt distracting”. i wore a tank top without anyone saying anything except for a couple of compliments lmao.

my school claims to have a dress code but ive seen people with corsets, fishnets, studded chokers, 3 inch platforms, short skirts, chain belts, and tube tops- (im in 8th grade btw) ⟟ swear my school just doesnt inforce it

Do you think you'll ever come out with merch for specific flags? It's EXTREMELY difficult to find merch of any kind for the gay male (green to blue striped) flag, even something as simple as stickers and pins.

the 2 dislikes are from those texan old lady principals

The thing about being allowed to talk about the community made me smile because it reminded me of this girl in my science class. Sweetest lady on the planet. Just the other day, this girl straight up walked into my English class before the bell rang to jokingly, but sincerely, sing, “[My name], You’re the most beautiful girl in the woooorld~” and it was so damn cute

Hey PBR, I was wondering about Trans rights in schools specifically in Pennsylvania My cousin is FTM and uses He/Him pronouns, however, he gotten in trouble at school for using the boys bathroom, even though its the bathroom that matches his gender identity Is there anything that can be done?

Thank you! This helped A LOT!

This is such a good rundown of dress code laws! Thanks!!

They only dress code girls in my school. Like ESPECIALLY old teachers, like they always be stairing at the freshman. Like I’m sorry these are my genetics, I can’t change my body, trust me. If I could I would

Last week national independence day was celebrated at my school. I wore the same thing as one of my male classmates and had to argue with a nun that it still counts as formal wear. Then she lectured us about what girls and boys can and cannot wear. Everybody in my class agreed it was complete bullshit 😶 We don't even have uniforms and that one nun is ready to throw hands with a child that wore jeans or a "too short" skirt

What if it's a religious school? I don't personally go to one but I know people who do.

I remember during my graduation, I identified as male (I'm genderfluid), and we were told to wear either a white dress or a tux. Though they never specified that if you're AFAB you HAVE to wear a dress so my mom and I just laughed our asses off and I got to graduate while looking like a fucking prince.

The talk of dress code reminded me of my end of school party in middle school, because I go by she/they and I wore a suit and pants to the party. My science teacher was in charge of seeing if what you are wearing is up to the dress code and I and my friend (goes by they them and wore a regular button up shirt and pants) were allowed in, but some people gave us some strange looks and definitely thought it was weird but overall it was a great night.

I have been very anxious recently cause my family is planning to move to Texas and put me in a Christian school. The current runner up has a big ‘girls must wear skirts and boys must wear pants’ rule and as a closeted trans guy I happen to be scared, not to mention that in one of the papers they published in 2019 they straight up just dismissed LGBTQ+ people and basically said that ‘bodies are meant to be a certain way’ which sent a very clear message that they don’t like queer folk. Any advice as to how to deal with that. (They should be accepting cause ‘love your neighbor’)

Yo can someone tell me why my legs hurt

ok amazing video but also IM EARLY TO A POWERED BY RAINBOW YES

So if im a demigirl, and my band director is saying I have to wear a dress but I would rather wear what the boys wear - a tuxedo, can I wear the tux instead of him trying to say girls have to wear a dress

It's sad when you start to realize the dress code isn't for the students it's for the teachers

Thank you for informing us, Professor Pride! 😊

But my school has band jewellery so, could I still wear an lgbtq wristband

Nearly half of the population is homophobic and transphobic in Turkey. Just because of ignorance, political figures are even refuses to accept LGBTQ+ rights. For example, Ebrar Karakurt is a very successful woman volleyball player of Turkey woman volleyball team, but she got linched on social media just because she’s lesbian. I’m straight but I support LGBTQ+ rights, and I think everyone must be respectful toward others thoughts and their sexual orientations.

Thanks

thank you :)

My school technically breaks this because of the girls aren’t allowed to wear shorts that are shorter than like 3 inches above your knee but the boys can do whatever the f**k they want but I don’t care that much because most of the teachers like me so they let it slide

i am forced into going to a christian skool (i do nawt mind da drezz code rn but im just curious) would all of these lawz still apply 2 mai skool if it "goes against" the belief and "religious freedom" of the leaderz in da skool hav, i cant imagine lgbtq+ kidz being listened 2 on thiz when da "freedom of religion" thing iz so much more lieked bai our government. also thankz 4 thiz, thiz waz rlly helpful

Does all of this apply on Mexico? I go to private school

Thank you for saying asexual! Not everybody in the LGBTQ+ community considers them to be part of the community

I love your channel!

about expressing political viewpoints, I'm wondering if wearing something that expresses a viewpoint from the right side of political spectrum would be more likely to be reprimanded? Like, if a student came to school with imagery of Nazism and another came to school with Communist imagery would you still be protected by federal law? I'm not American so I don't know. Edit: Oh, I guess not.

your so awsome i love you😭

Well this is a pretty good video for information

I got pulled out of the lunch room and got god shoved down my throat about how being gay is a sin when I came out to my friends

but then i guess this only is on the USA right? or does this laws are also used in other contries...?

What is drees code

my school doesn't have a dresscode

Fun fact: my friend had to leave his Hawaii shirt in his locker because it reminded to much of weed 👍

well techilky you can't say whatever like you can't drop the f bomb at at school or scream fire in a crowded building

Ok I’m not lgbtq and this is my view. Kids at my school who wear pride earrings, shoelaces ex… get milk cartons thrown at them, lunch trays, pencils ex,,. In my case I think it’s be better if you didn’t express it at all. I really don’t like seeing them get stuff thrown at. And then kids will wear other political views and then they’ll get in fights. I’ll always be fine with people expressing themselves but seeing them get bullied doesn’t seem worth it in my opinion.

3:05 and yet it still happens...

Sadly we here in the philippines dont have laws like that😢

My school doesn't allow me to grow my hair

I just happily have uniforms

Yet, I wonder if I could use my little % of Native American to fight it. In the Native American culture men/boys have long hair in pony tails, but when the christians came, they made the Indians cut it.

Just tell them it's a kilt what can they say to that? Exactly:) Blessed be

My private school banned my love is love pride pin :(

... I go to a British school... if my parents figure out my gender identity imma wear some enby pins :)

oh come on bro schools aint gunna stop the swearing we tried but failed

To you don't have to be trans to want to were a skert or dress or vis versa for afab you mite just like the look. You do you boo.

Unfortunately, it seems schools Can ban most types of feminine clothing.

If one can wear it then all can. I hate sexist dress codes.

Great tell kids how to get beat up by bullies. I graduated high school in 1978 only 10 years after Stonewall, there was no way I would have dressed in anyway expressing gender or sexual identity.