Students forced to change after wearing LGBTQ-positive shirts to school

Multiple students at Martin County High School were forced to change shirts after a school administrator claimed they violated the dress code.

Now, students are upset after they say they feel like they were discriminated against.

"It started off around Thursday of last week," recalled student Lilly Vance. "They were wearing gay pride shirts to school and they all got dress coded for it."

Two of the shirts read "Lady Lesbian" and "Queen Queer."

"Kids wear political shirts. They wear Confederate flag shirts. I just don't understand what's so wrong with wearing gay pride shirts," Vance explained. "Nothing we're doing is wrong. All we are doing is expressing who we are."

Another student, Zachary Mills, told WYMT there is a double standard when it comes to dress code violations.

"I don't think it's fair because I see people walking around school with Confederate flags on their boots, hats, shirts, and even belt buckles," explained Mills.

Mills said he hoped this will change the way some may treat those in the LGBTQ community.

"I hope that we as LGBTQ students and people as a whole will be treated equally because right now that's not what it's looking like," said Mills.

We received this statement from Superintendent Larry James stating:

"Any miscommunication has been resolved. We definitely do not want any of our students to feel like they are discriminated against."

Vance said she hoped this does not happen again.

"We're not asking you to believe in what we believe in. We're just asking for respect," said Vance.

Vance also said she wanted a GSA group to be formed after this so LGBTQ students will feel welcome.

"It means Gay-Straight Alliance. It's for kids who don't feel safe at home, who just need people to talk to and feel safe and secure. I think everyone deserves that," explained Vance.