Trans-femme teen voted prom king says school ‘does not support’ her after backlash
A trans-femme teen was voted prom king (Stock image via Getty Images)
Willow Polangco-Kenney, a trans-femme student in Cleveland, Georgia has spoken out against her school after its response to backlash when she was voted prom king.
On 20 April, White County School Superintendent Jonathan Stribling wrote a letter to the local community, saying the prom court crowning “do not represent a shift in the mission, values, or educational priorities of White County Schools”.
Polangco-Kenney was voted prom king, while Katie Nanney, who is cisgender female, was voted prom queen. The duo posed happily for photos in their crowns, and Polangco-Kenney later spoke in an Instagram video to show support for Nanney, saying the backlash was taking attention away from her.
Nanney responded: “You are truly the kindest human. I am so grateful to know you, thank you.”
Despite the students being supportive of each other, the school’s letter appeared to be in response to backlash in the wider community.
A local pastor reportedly criticised the school after Polangco-Kenney won, slamming the “woke agenda”. According to LGBTQ Nation, the post was edited and comments were disabled after people opposed the message.
The school’s letter said: “Our system is not promoting any political or social agenda. Our focus remains where it has always been – on student safety, academic excellence, character development, and preparing young people for responsible citizenship.”
It continued to say the school also has a “legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that every student is treated with dignity and respect”, which they were “committed to upholding”.
‘There is so much that I have to deal with’
However, Polangco-Kenney responded, claiming the school does not support her. She said: “I had to get special provisions to even let me use a restroom because there’s not an accessible restroom downstairs at the Performing Arts Center, which accessible restrooms are supposed to be a thing everyone.
“And I get looked at like I’m crazy and told absolutely insane things just because I have to go pee, and there’s a whole procedure for me.
“There is so much that I have to deal with, and it’s all so that the school doesn’t have to acknowledge or support me.”
She went on to say that her fellow students “are wonderful people” who “happen to love when people are able to express themselves and happen to believe in the American idea of freedom of speech and freedom of expression”. She added: “The school does not support that.”
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