Gender-Neutral Graduation Gowns Considered At Braintree Schools

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree School Committee has created a subcommittee to consider whether to get rid of gender-based graduation gowns, according to a Patriot Ledger report. The move comes after pressure from students and the American Civil Liberties Union to create a gender-neutral gown.

The vote took place less than two weeks after the ACLU sent a letter to school officials, including the School Committee. The Patriot Ledger reported School Committee Member Jennifer Dolan as saying the subcommittee will have a recommendation concerning gender-neutral graduation gowns by March 23.

The current policy "leaves transgender and non-binary students at risk of harassment or bullying if they choose the color that other students feel is not accurately associated with their apparent gender," the ACLU's letter says.

According to the Patriot Ledger, which first reported this story, ACLU attorney Ruth Bourquin in the email argued providing blue gown to boys and white gowns to girls is dismissive of transgender and non-binary students. The email said the issue was raised by several Braintree High School students, and the school's Gender and Sexuality Alliance also created a petition that was included in the ACLU's email.

The ACLU's letter, shown below, said it is illegal for public schools to discriminate based on race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. It also pointed to a recently amended state law that requires schools to adjust their gender-based graduation policies.

Braintree High School doesn't force students to wear the color corresponding with their birth gender, but the ACLU's letter argued the current policy is still harmful. The ACLU suggested solving the problem by having all students wear one color.

Related: ACLU Criticizes Braintree High Over Gendered Graduation Gowns

The letter from the ACLU can be found below:

Read more at the Patriot Ledger.