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SC high school senior denied walking at graduation because she wore pants

DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — A South Carolina senior was told she was not able to walk across the stage at graduation because she was wearing pants, WPDE reported.

Dynasia Clark is a senior from Lamar High School in Darlington County. While many schools were not able to hold in-person graduation ceremonies because of the coronavirus pandemic, her school found a way.

Clark is openly gay and wanted to wear pants to feel more comfortable during this exciting experience. Lamar High School had a dress code put in place for the ceremony, requiring girls to wear a dress. Clark said she wasn’t expecting the school to stop her.

“I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal, because we’re already here, we’re already fixing to walk but now I can’t go because of a dress code,” Clark said.

Clark left the field once she realized school officials weren’t going to let her walk.

“I was angry more than anything because we worked hard to even have a graduation and then I can’t walk because I don’t got on a dress,” Clark said.

She said she decided to still stay and watch the ceremony.

“I was okay standing outside the gate watching them graduate because they’re my classmates,” Clark said. “I wouldn’t want to just go home because I can’t walk.”

As she was listening to all the names being called and watching people get their diplomas, she was waiting to hear her name. But Clark said it was never called.

“That was the part that made me more mad than anything because I was there you could have at least called my name,” Clark said. “It seems crazy to me. It seems stupid, like petty because it was just an outfit to me.”

After the ceremony was over, Clark said she was still very upset with what happened.

“It shouldn’t have stopped me from doing something what I have been waiting on for 12 years-- I went to school. Everybody be happy for their graduation day and I couldn’t even experience that," Clark said.

Darlington County School District released the following statement regarding this incident:

“The Lamar High School dress code for graduation has been in place for more than 20 years. We welcome students or parents who have concerns with any policy or procedure to meet with administration and discuss those concerns. In the past, when a student raised concern with the administration about the dress code prior to graduation day, the issue was addressed.”

South Carolina State Superintendent Molly Spearman released this statement on Thursday:

“The antiquated and discriminatory policies that prevented one of our graduates from being recognized for a once in a lifetime achievement have no place in South Carolina’s public education system. I am calling on the leadership of Darlington County School District to repeal this practice immediately and will offer my personal apology and congratulations to this student for her achievement and decision to serve our country.”