High School Coming Out Message Classed As Offensive By U.S. Principal

A teenager at a High School in the U.S. is claiming his school has denied his attempt to come out as gay.

In the yearbook that is printed at the end of each year, students are asked to write a quote to go alongside their picture for that year.

Zach Sides, a senior at Penobscot Valley High School in Maine , wrote: “It’s no wonder I dress so well, I didn’t spend all of my time in the closet for nothing.”

School Principal Carol Marcinkus, said that the yearbook quote about coming out of the closet was “offensive” and she did not want it to be published.

Sides isn’t upset about being told what he can and can’t say in the yearbook, but more with what the underlying message of Marcinkus’ dictum was, telling the local NBC News affiliate station, “It’s what she said and why it couldn’t go in the yearbook that really troubles me,” Sides said.

“I think she meant basically changing my mind about being who I am.” Sides continued, saying that Marcinkus told him she was “personally offended” by the message’s “connotation.”

The interaction with his principal also led to Sides coming out to his parents as well.

“Honestly, I never really wanted to come out. I just wanted to bring home my boyfriend and be like this is who I like and this is who I want to be with and just hope that everyone was okay with it,” Sides said.

District superintendent Michael Wright told NBC that he did not think the quote was “inappropriate” and “took care of the issue” when it was brought to his attention, meaning the yearbook will contain Sides’ original quote.

Further, he vowed to re-examine the “policies and procedures and guidelines for determining yearbook quotes.” Marcinkus was unavailable to comment.

Last Updated on Mar 25, 2016