Many schools have dress codes, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Making sure students wear clothing that is appropriate and not overly distracting is nothing new. Even schools that don’t require students to wear a certain uniform may ban certain types of clothing or accessories.

Trevor Wilkinson is a senior at Clyde High School in Clyde, Texas. His school has a long list of clothing and accessories that it bans. For example, certain hairstyles and piercings are not allowed.

The school claims that parents and students are notified about the dress code policies well in advance of the school year starting. They agree to these rules, so why should there be a problem now?

Wilkinson did something that broke the rules. Unfortunately, what he did is allowed for female students at his school but not for him since he is male. The extreme thing Wilkinson did that got him suspended from school was going to school with nail polish on his fingernails. Watch the video below for more details about Wilkinson’s story.

If getting suspended for wearing fingernail polish seems a little bit extreme to you, you’re not alone. Many viewers agree. One comment reads, “Boys used to paint their nails black when I was in school who cares , Not worth suspension.”

Another viewer wrote, “Leave him alone, what harm is he doing to other students personally. First parents and teachers complain about students skipping class and doing drugs. Meanwhile, this kid consistently shows up to in-person learning during a pandemic and yet the school wants to focus on something stupid like this other than improving their teaching skills.”

Instead of removing the nail polish, Wilkinson launched a Change.org petition explaining why he wants change.

“I got ISS (in school suspension) for having my nails painted. I was told that I will continue to get ISS until I take them off.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. I am a gay male and I’m beyond proud. This is unjust and not okay. Help me show that it is okay to express yourself and that the identity that society wants to normalize is not okay. I am a human. I am valid. I should not get in trouble for having my nails done. Sign and share this so people like me don’t have to ever deal with this again.”

So far, over 85,000 people have signed Wilkinson’s petition. His goal is to get at least 150,000 signatures.

Do you think Clyde High School should change the rules and allow Wilkinson to wear nail polish to school?