A junior high student who was barred from her own school's prom for wearing a suit attended another school's prom instead on May 21.
Aniya Wolf goes to the Bishop McDevitt High School, a private Catholic school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her prom night on May 6 was supposed to be one of the magical moments in Wolf's teenage years, but it didn't turn out the way she had hoped.
Bishop McDevitt said that a dress code notice had been sent to the students' parents in February plus a reminder in March.
The school said all female students must wear formal dresses, and those who don't follow the strict dress code will not be allowed to enter.
Wolf, who identifies herself as a lesbian, wore a tuxedo to the school event. She said she has been wearing pants to school in the past three years.
While the school tried to reach out to Wolf's mother in attempts to talk the teenager into abiding by the dress code, Wolf stuck with her decision and wore the pants to prom.
Bishop McDevitt noted that many students who violated the same dress code in the past were also denied admission to the prom.
"Bishop McDevitt will continue to practice acceptance and love for all our students. We simply ask that they follow the rules that we have put into place," said the school.
Following the prom issue, the school informed students that they must wear dresses underneath their graduation toga as well.
On the night of May 21, Wolf finally got the prom experience she didn't get at her own school. Brandon Carter, the principal of William Penn High School in York, extended a prom invitation to Wolf along with a message of full acceptance.
Together with her date, Wolf finally went to prom wearing a beautiful navy blue tuxedo while her date wore a matching blue dress with a sparkly top.
