The Grand County School District has changed its policy for graduation robes for the second time this year, now allowing students to choose either white or red robes regardless of gender identity.
District leaders had previously announced in January that the entire Grand County High School graduating class would wear red robes, updating a tradition that assigned white robes to women and red to men.
“With the 2023 graduates, students can wear whatever color they want to wear, whether that be red or white,” said GCHS Principal Todd Thompson. “So, our gowns or robes are no longer gender specific.”
Calling the decision a “compromise,” Thompson said he and Superintendent Taryn Kayreversed the original change after hearing from multiple students and alumni who wanted to wear white robes.”
A lot of people think that it was parents that came in here just getting on me about the white,” Thompson said. “It wasn’t. It was a lot of students that came in to [see] me, also, that spoke to me about the white. So even if I would’ve said all red, we would’ve had students still wear white no matter what.”
Another nixed practice — having male and female students proceed hand-in-hand down a central aisle — is also being reconsidered, Thompson said. He said that decision should come out within the next week.
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