People Are Rallying Around Gay Teen Suspended for Wearing Nail Polish

The internet is rallying around a Texas teen after he was suspended for wearing nail polish.

Following the Thanksgiving break, 17-year-old Trevor Wilkinson, a senior at Clyde High School in Abilene, Texas, wore painted nails to school and was reprimanded by his teachers because they "prohibited him from learning," even receiving an in-school-suspension.

Wilkinson shared what happened on social media and it quickly went viral. 

"I was told that I will continue to get ISS until I take them off," said Wilkinson, pointing out the "double standard because girls are allowed to paint and get their nails done."

Since his suspension, Wilkinson launched a Change.org petition, Allow males to wear nail polish, that currently has nearly 160,000 signatures at the time of writing.

"Freedom of expression is validation enough that the dress code and policy is not okay," wrote Wilkinson. "I am a gay male and I’m beyond proud. This is unjust and not okay. Help me show that it is okay to express yourself and that the identity that society wants to normalize is not okay. I am a human. I am valid. I should not get in trouble for having my nails done. Sign and share this so people like me don’t have to ever deal with this again. It’s time for a change and that time is now."

As of December 3, Wilkinson remained in in-school-suspension. "I am currently still in ISS and they told me that I either have to go online, or stay in ISS until I take my nails off."

For Wilkinson and many others, wearing nail polish is about the freedom to express himself. He told USA Today, "I have been doing this to express who I am. I’ve been trapped in closed-minded people’s minds...I love my nails. I think they’re so cool. I’m definitely using it to express myself and feel everyone should have freedom of expression."

District Superintendent Kenny Berry released a statement about the incident.

"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. Questions or concerns with the dress code are reviewed individually, and the district cannot share any information regarding specific student. The district appreciates the feedback and input on this issue received from members of the community, and will take this into consideration when it conducts its annual review later this school year."

"I don't understand why it's any kind of a big deal," he responded. "Who does it harm? I'd like to see them just drop it — that's what they should do."

Since the story went viral, Clyde CISD has locked its Twitter account.