Justice

Why One Man's Outfit Is Causing So Much Controversy

May 13th 2016

It turns out that people don't just have a problem with which bathroom you use — they also have a problem with which outfit you wear.

That's what 20-year-old Angus McCormack discovered after he was kicked out of an event for his outfit.

McCormack and his father, Christopher McCormack, were attending a function at Girton Grammar School in Bendigo, Australia, where Christopher is a board member and Angus is an alumnus. It was a celebration of the school's 133rd birthday, but neither McCormack got to celebrate.

As McCormack stated in his Facebook post:

"I am openly gay and very confident in my often 'bold' choices of fashion. (I was originally considering rocking a dress and some killer heels!) However, I decided to 'tone down' my appearance and be respectful to their wishes."

Angus McCormack FB photoAngus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

He opted for skinny cut pants, jacket, button-down shirt, bow tie, and ankle boots instead. "A suit by any definition of the word, although not in the typical commercial fabrics," he explained. But the deputy head (a senior teacher) told McCormack he was "inappropriately dressed" and demanded that he leave.

This is his outfit.

Angus McCormack in skinny pants, jacket, bowtieAngus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

McCormack decided to leave in order to "avoid further embarrassment and a potentially ugly scene." His father also felt "disgraced" and has since resigned from the board.

McCormack is calling what happened to him "discrimination."

In his post, he says that he has not received any sort of apology from the school, and thus, decided to "take things further":

"I am not only seeking fair treatment for myself, but I also want to fight for all those people out there who don’t have a voice, who don’t know who they are and who can’t openly express themselves. Its 2016! This kind of discrimination against any person regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation or beliefs is just utterly appalling. Funnily enough, the school seems to believe that this issue will disappear and not affect their reputation or enrolments."

Angus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

He is encouraging anyone reading his post who believes that he was "mistreated" to write a letter to the headmaster of the school.

McCormack has lots of support.

His post is flooded with supportive comments.

Angus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

Angus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

But he also has his detractors:

Angus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

Angus McCormack/Facebook - facebook.com

Ultimately, McCormack and his family are hurt and embarrassed by the actions of his school.

"My family and I are incredibly hurt by the actions, which have been exercised against me and despite trying to remain my bubbly and confident self, this is eating away at the core of who I am, not to mention the utter sense of despair I have suffered in being turned away by the school with which I was once so proud to be associated with."

[H/T Mashable]

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