First, a Southwest Legacy High School grad recently landed in hot water for displaying a Mexican flag at her commencement, and now a Clark High School student is getting grief over a graduation unveiling that went viral.
Northside ISD officials told news site MySA that they took disciplinary action against a bearded student who unzipped their graduation gown during Clark's June 8 commencement ceremony to reveal a skimpy black dress with cut out sides. A transgender pride flag also appears to be sewn into the inside of the graduation robe.
The student, identified as Samuel Silberman-Garcia in the clip, tosses confetti and blows kisses to the cheering crowd. As can be expected, the video — which has since racked up 40,000 Facebook views — subsequently shows school officials escorting the student offstage.
"While we cannot discuss individual student discipline, administrative action was taken to address the disruption," Northside spokesman Barry Perez told MySA. While Perez wouldn't go into the specific action taken against the student, he said their diploma "remains with the campus."
Not to be outdone, the self-appointed morality police of the San Antonio Family Association tweeted out the clip, calling it "repulsive evidence of a great degradation in our culture that is harmful for this young man and society."
Today at SA NISD Clark High School graduation.
— SAFAfamily (@SAFAfamily) June 9, 2021
WARNING: misfit behavior repulsive evidence of a great degradation in our culture that is harmful for this young man and society.#NISD #NSISD #ClarkHighGraduation2021 #MisfitBehavior pic.twitter.com/85rfvZbHYe
Twitter users responded by calling out the organization's anti-LGBTQ+ agenda, and accusing it of bullying the student. SAFA president, Patrick Von Dohlen, has run unsuccessful city council campaigns centered around culture war issues.
You could've just said you hate diversity and expression. Love grown adults running an account to bully an 18 year old for expressing themselves. You're so brave 😭
— EthanFillerTV (@EthanFiller) June 9, 2021
Meanwhile, Northside's Perez told MySA the district is disciplining the student because it wants commencement ceremonies to "honor and celebrate" its grads' achievements.
"Disruptions detract from this celebratory environment," he explained.
Anyone want to wager whether the faculty members who escorted Silverman Garcia off the stage told the new grad the stunt would go down on their permanent record? Or is that ominous threat specifically reserved for pre-commencement disciplinary sessions?
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