Senior Yearbook Photo Causes Controversy

An honor student fights to get her photo published in the yearbook

By: Ross Adams | WJTV
Published: October 19, 2009

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A big controversy is brewing at a small Copiah County high school over a yearbook photo.
Ceara Sturgis, a senior at Wesson Attendance Center is in the center of the battle.
She posed for her senior class year book photo wearing a tuxedo, instead of the drape girls are required to wear.
But school administrators are refusing to publish the photo.
Sturgis is openly gay and accuses the school of discriminating against her.
“When I put on that tuxedo I had no idea that any of this would happen,” says the straight A student.
Sturgis' story is attracting national media attention, with interest from producers with Oprah Winfrey's show, and gay rights groups are showing their support.
“People from all over the United States told me I'm their hero,” Sturgis said
The Mississippi ACLU claims the school is denying Carea's constitutional right to free expression, the organization is now considering legal action against the school district on behalf of Sturgis.