According to a reliable source, the new superintendent of Laurel County Schools has forbidden students to wear garments that are primarily pink in color, because pink is a “gay color.” I’ve taken the trouble to find that the super’s name, if the district web site is up-to-date, is James Francis. For your convenience, I’ve outlined the Laurel County student dress code below. There is no mention of the color pink, however items numbers 4 and 8 do have a vagueness to them that could be interpreted as anything of which the superintendent, or principal, or perhaps even the teacher does not approve.

1. No shoes with cleats or nails - no boots with spurs.
2. No sleeves or trousers with rivets.
3. No bare feet.
4. Any article of clothing, jewelry, body decoration, or hairstyle extreme enough to
create distraction or disturb the normal routine of school shall be deemed inappropriate.
5. No halters, spaghetti straps, one-shoulder tops, low cut tops, or bare midriffs.
6. No hats, caps, overcoats or bandannas are allowed unless they are part of an
approved educational activity.
7. Shirts must cover the body to the waist and must come to the edge of the shoulder.
8. No articles of clothing with wording, pictures, symbols, or graphics that, either
implied or suggested, contain inappropriate language, violence, obscene or sexual
connotations, alcohol, narcotics, firearms, or tobacco messages.
9. Trousers/ slacks/ pants must be belted at the natural waist. Pants shall not be excessively
long enough to cause a safety hazard.
10. No undergarments may be exposed.
11. Dark glasses, unless prescribed by a physician, are prohibited inside the building.
12. Any accessory or clothing article, deemed gang related, as determined by the
administration, is prohibited.
13. Garments designed for outerwear must be hemmed or cuffed.
14. Tattoos that are vulgar or that display items related to drugs, alcohol, or gang symbols,
or that are racially or sexually offensive are to be covered and non-visible at
all times.
15. Garments may not have any holes that are located above the knees.
16. No student shall wear nose, eyebrow, lip, or tongue rings, studs or piercings.

I can’t really call from my current position to ascertain whether the anti-pinkness is a policy in writing, but I will tell you guys out there, particularly the ones of you who already have the ACLU on speed dial, that all the districts contact information can be found here. Please give us an update.