Trevor Wilkinson is 17 years old, a senior at Clyde High School in Texas – and gay. The combination is not only potentially problematic: because he wore nail polish, he was suspended from class. But Trevor didn’t let that go – he defends himself against homophobia and sexism.

Trevor Wilkinson returned from the Thanksgiving break with painted fingernails. Without further ado he was accused by the school administration of violating the dress code. The dress code prohibits painted fingernail for male – and only male – students. For Trevor blatant, sexist injustice. He refused to remove the nail polish.

Trevor argued that it was a double standard that girls should be allowed to have coloured fingernails, but boys should not. The boy was less concerned about the nail polish than about homophobic injustice and conservative hypocrisy.

The fronts hardened: Trevor did not give in, but neither did the school. In the end it was said that he should not be able to take part in regular studies as long as the paint was on his nails. Trevor now wants to fight against this homophobic and sexist dress code.

Great support for his idea

“I am a gay man, and I am more than proud of it.”

The courageous 17-year-old quickly launched a petition on the internet calling for a change in the dress code. Just a defiant teenager who lets out the frustration about his school problems on the internet? Not likely. In the meantime, the petition has already been signed by more than 170,000 people, and the numbers are rising rapidly.

Trevor writes:

“It’s a complete double standard because girls are allowed to paint and get their nails done. Not only that, but freedom of expression is validation enough that the dress code and policy is not okay.”

The time for a change has come, the young man points out. And he seems to be right about that: On December 1st, Trevor posted his petition on his Twitter channel, then everything happened very quickly. The petition went viral, media contacted him, including the highest-circulation newspaper ‘USA Today’ and the news programme ‘Good Morning America’, which featured an article about Trevor and his mission.

Social media support is also strong. Celebrities lent their support to Trevor. Actor Chad Lindberg (The Fast and the Furious) assured Trevor of his support and wrote that he too had painted fingernails most of his life – and the director of the films even used this detail for Lindberg’s character Jesse.

School keeps a low profile

One can only imagine that so much media attention is not exactly appreciated by the school administration. The Clyde School District did not want to comment explicitly on the Wilkinson incident at the request of the media.

However, in a statement on Friday, the school administration emphasised that they conduct a careful and thoughtful annual review of the dress code. Parents and students received a copy of the dress code at the beginning of each new school year.

“Questions or concerns regarding the dress code will be considered on an individual basis and the district cannot disclose information about a particular student.”

On Instagram, Trevor thanked everyone for their support – especially those who had bombarded his school’s administration with e-mails and phone calls. He called on everyone: Paint your nails and set an example – in Texas and around the world.

“Thank you for standing alongside me to create change so that students like me can express ourselves in authentic ways in school and focus on our studies. As well as ending the gender norms that society has oppressed on us.”

Homophobic and sexist school and dress codes are outdated. There can be no social change without courageous pioneers. It was only in October that boys in Canada showed courage and put on a skirt in protest against the prehistoric dress code.

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