The Mississippi school that cancelled Constance McMillen's prom also suspended a transgender student, giving no explanation.
Reports have emerged that Juin Baize was suspended within hours of his first day at Itwamba Agricultural High School, and once again after his initial suspension was over, according to Pink Paper.
Seattle-based news site The Stranger reported that 16-year-old Baize, was given a suspension note just hours into his first day at school.
The school gained notoriety recently after it cancelled their prom to exclude 18-year-old McMillen attending with her girlfriend.
"People were talking about him all day, trying to get a look at him," said McMillen. "It was insane, it was ridiculous, it made me so mad. They said he was causing a distraction with what he was wearing but it was a half day of school and people didn't have time to get used to him."
The reasons for suspending a student are supposed to be noted on a form, but that part of Baize's suspension notice was left blank. The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the school on Baize's behalf asking the school for the reasoning behind his suspension. There was no response.
Baize's mother said she feared for her child's safety and sent him to Florida to live with a close family friend until she can join him.
Kristy Bennet, legal director of the ACLU in Mississippi, said they would not be pursuing the case, adding, "Juin not being in Fulton makes it difficult for us to pursue any kind of legal action here. And personally, I feel it may be a better decision for Juin to relocate and move on with his life."
Baize agrees.
"There's this thing here called Florida Virtual School," Baize told The Stranger, "and I'm going to enroll in that online and do that until next year. And from what I've heard the high school near here is very accepting. So I'm going to start fresh."
"I'm in a much better place now."
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