Texas Homecoming Queen Barred From Crowning Successor After Proudly Wearing Mexican Heritage Stole During Graduation
A Texas high school is getting some criticism after barring a reigning homecoming queen from crowning her successor for wearing a stole to show off her Mexican heritage during her graduation ceremony.
Kayleigh Craddock graduated from the Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas last May and she wore a stole representing her Mexican heritage. However, the school did not like her wearing the stole and called her family to tell them that she was no longer welcome to attend the school's next homecoming to crown her successor.
Craddock's mother, Cynthia Vasquez, spoke with CNN and told the network that her 18-year-old daughter was excited to go back to her former high school and participate in the tradition of crowning the next Homecoming Queen. However, that excitement has since faded after the school informed the family that she was not welcome.
The Brazosport Independent School District released a statement to CNN and said, "The student was asked to comply with the dress guidelines and refused." The statement added, "The graduate was homecoming queen last school year, however, because of the insubordination at the graduation ceremony last May, the graduate was not invited back to participate in the crowning of this year's Homecoming Queen."
However, Vasquez disputed this claim and said that her daughter was last in line on graduation day, and a teacher approached her about the stole and only told her to tuck it into her gown.
The mother also stated that other students were also wearing stoles and felt that her daughter was being singled out and punished. She added that the family should have been informed about the school's decision sooner.
Texas Homecoming Queen Says She Did Not Break School's Dress Code With Mexican Heritage Stole
Meanwhile, Kayleigh Craddock herself is defending wearing the Mexican Heritage Stole during her graduation and insists she did not break the school's dress code.
The student, who is now a freshman college student at Sam Houston State University, spoke with KHOU-11 and said that she was proud to wear her Mexican heritage stole to accept her diploma. "I wanted to represent my culture. I love being Mexican and I will forever be proud," she told the news channel. She added that if she had been told not to wear it, she would have removed it.
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"I wouldn't have brought it if it was out of dress code," she said. "I wouldn't have brought it period." She added that she was actually told that wearing the stole was OK and is hoping that the school district will change its mind.
"I was never told to take it off. It's on video. They have video. The whole thing is recorded. There's pictures, everything," she explained. "There's a teacher at each row, he never told me anything."
League of United Latin American Citizens Slams Texas School District Over Actions
The actions of the Brazosport Independent School District also caught the attention of one of the biggest Latino groups in the US, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). The Hispanic rights advocacy group then released a statement slamming the district's decision regarding Craddock.
Sergio Lira, the president of Greater Houston LULAC Council 4967, called the decision "pure nonsense" and a "flagrant act of discrimination." He added that they are now upset that this has happened during Hispanic Heritage Month in particular.
Lira added, that "It just seems to be a continuous slap in the face to our culture. And the insensitivity of the school officials to allow this or to tolerate this type of behavior, it's just unacceptable."
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Homecoming queen stands ground, says she didn't break dress code during graduation - KHOU-11