If you turn on the local TV news tonight, you’ll undoubtedly see coverage of today’s rally outside North Dallas High School in support of Andy Moreno, the transgender girl whose principal decided she wasn’t fit to run for homecoming queen. A dozen or so protesters from Queer LiberAction gathered on a street corner in front of the school at about 3:30 p.m. As the bell rang a few minutes later and students poured down the front steps, QL organizer Elizabeth Pax yelled through a megaphone for those who support Andy to join the protesters. Hundreds of students swarmed the street corner, cheering and chanting as Moreno stood alongside Pax looking on. Crews from several local TV stations, as well as from CNN and MTV News, were on hand. The protesters and students, including Moreno, eventually marched up and down Cole Avenue yelling things like “Who’s queen? Our queen!” as police and school officials watched nearby. We’ll post a full story and video from the rally shortly. More pics below.
UPDATE: We’ve posted our story here.
David, you make me cry. This is beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful. Thank you!
Ya, now DISD would take away the right to protest next
@ preppystudent the right to assemble and protest peacefully is guaranteed by The Constutition. You can even lead one yourself without the supervision of adults and DISD cannot do anything about it. That is as long as you do it in the right way and dont break any rules!
I second that,Christian.
right on and why kool to see this
and canada’s glbtq community is watching to
That was so amazing. Seriously. Those kids were so supportive!!! I have hope for the future. 😀
Sometimes DISD doesn’t even understand the Constutition, something about some rights being taken away when we step on school grounds. How would I know, just a fresh DISD Product!
Thanks DV and to everyone who participated, and much love to you Andy!!!
Really, that was a rally? The pictures were taken when students were leaving after school today. They want to show pictures of students in mass but they were not the one who assembled. There were only about ten non-NDHS people who gathered around. I know, I was there.
Iwas There: If you review the pictures, there are more than 10 people holding signs. So, as much as you’d like to down play, kids were assembling in a peaceful manner and ensured their voices were heard!
@preppystudent: Unless you are instantly transported into a non-US territory when you step on to school grounds, you surrender no Constitutional protection. While the school may develop policies in the interest of protecting students… there are times when breaking the rules, and perhaps getting detention, are worth it. If school administrators tell you differently, feel free to visit the ACLU’s website. They’d *love* to hear about it.
Mike, did these students request for a conference with the principal in order for them to be heard? The streets is not the right place. Two weeks ago I had a complaint and I asked to see the principal. I talked to her but even so I still did not get what I wanted. She explained to me why and I understood. There is no protest inside our school, Mike. I challenge those students who challenge the principal to meet with her. You will have a change of mind. Except of course to those who already closed their minds.
Andy met with the principal. Repeatedly. And she was repeatedly told that she was the one student in the school who would not be allowed to compete. The others couldn’t meet with the principal. She left town to avoid the students and avoid homecoming that she was so eager to protect.
As for their right to protest, one DISD police officer said to me, “They have a right as long as they keep it peaceful.” And they did.
I am currently a student at NDHS and saw this “rally” after school. I was shocked because i saw this was going on. As a student at ND i would like to say that we have a GSA club(gay club) and support it! But that rally and the whole news thing is makingour school look very bad. A message to all of yal you are representing ND not gay ND!!! north dallas is not ready for this! Wake up world!
The majority is ‘never ready’ when oppressed people get tired of being messed with and stand up for their constitutional rights. Trans people are only the latest group tired of the jacked up status quo.
So Abigail, what side are you on/ Are you going to make the choice of standing up f or a classmate’s civil rights or be an oppression enabler like Principal Escanilla?
Transgriot – The student at our school is not getting bullied. We love andy. But a true statement he was not even eligeble for homecoming because he failed classses. think about it as if you were the principal ? whose name is it going to appear first.. so she is responsible for doing what she believes is right. So next time he goes to news… tell him to pass his classes.
Grettings, bisexual girl myself and I am against it.
Abigail, sweetie, I’m not sure who this Andy boy is that you’re talking about. We’re talking about a young WOMAN (she, not “he”) named Andy and there were no grade requirements when your bigot principal told her she could run “as a guy. For king.” you are as misinformed as you are ignorant about trans women. SHE is fabulous and deserved to run. Your principal, bless her hate-filled heart, was merely being an ignorant bigot. (just like you! Well…the ignorant part anyway. I wouldn’t call you a queer bigot, since you are one yourself. Just really ignorant and misinformed) bless your queer heart.
Gabe,
there is no need of insulting one or other until that “andy” gets surgery he is a he! as to the principal you have not met her she is a great women and trust me she has education.And you are misinformed HE did not pass his classses! so give him some tutoring 😀
There is grade requirements.I researched through the school and you had to be passsing all of your courses. so i will call ignorant the people who were nominating him before even knowing if HE was eligible.