Graduation from Hell

[MustLoveBeagles]

First if this isn't an appropriate place to post this please let me know. I didn't know where else to put it.

Yesterday my husband and Iwent to the graduation of someone we've known since they* were a baby and seriously contemplated adopting. The birth mother said no. Anyway they told us it was to be at 7pm sharp and they had to be there by 6pm. So we thought it would be a good idea to take them and their fiance out to dinner and we all had a great time. So far so good.

They and their fiance left the retaraunt at 5:45 and we followed at 6pm. When we got to the graduation venue at what we thought was plenty of time to find a decent parking spot. We got there at a little after 6 to locked doors and security wouldn't let us in. Us, their finace, their grandparents and a friend who was going to take pictures were stuck in the lobby until it was over with the fiance pounding on the doors the whole time until his knuckles bled. He never gave up.

When the doors finally opened we separated and tried to find them. All of us finally met up outside and found them. Distraught and angry doesn't begin to cover it. Apparantly a whole group of students were deliberatly lied to about the start time some let into the auditorium others turmed away. Several had their graduation deliberatly ruinded.

They came by our house today still in shock and angry about what happened. They're considering complaining to the school board and is considering other options. Sorry if this seems rambling or hard to understand. I'm still upset. I don't expect responses I just need to get this off my chest.

* They were born femaie but prefer they, them, they're pronouns.

[Ocelot II]

1. Were students excluded because they were trans or other minority?

Was this high school or college? Seems really strange that doors were locked and nobody allowed in. I hope they follow up on this, find out what was going on.

[MustLoveBeagles]

2. Thanks for your response

This was a learning center affiilliated with a local high school. The venue was a convention center. My husband has speculated that this happened to them because they're gender neutral and pansexual. They're very open about it so this is a possibility. Another is tthat last year a teacher was fired for failing students she didn't like. The secretary that gave them the wrong time was friends with this teacher. So revenge is a possiblity to.

[Hekate]

3. First, try to get the names and contact information of all those who were treated so shabbily

Second, do you still have a local newspaper? Consider writing an op-ed.

Third, consider obtaining legal counsel. This is absolutely outrageous.

I don’t mind this being in the Lounge.

[MustLoveBeagles]

6. We're going to try

Yes we have a local paper. I'll suggest this option to them. Obtaining a lawyer is an option they're considering. It wasn't the evening any of us were expecting that's for damn sure. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Hekate]

9. I don't know the young people (or you) but I remember being about 15 & getting a nudge to speak up

Not from my parents, God knows, but from a friend of theirs who listened to my anger about the school bus situation and said, “This is what you should do and what public entity you should contact, if you want things to change.”

It was a life-changing event for me, now that I come to think of it after so many years. I didn’t ask anybody if I could or should after that initial and enlightening conversation, I just wrote up a petition and got as many students as I could to sign it, wrote a cover letter, and sent it off to the Public Utilities Commission. I got a pissed-off phone call from the bus company wanting to know what adult had put me up to this and had written everything for me, and I truthfully said I did it myself.

And things changed, ultimately.

My parents were fairly unsettled, because frankly I think they were raising me to be an intelligent well-read mouse. I was still their well-behaved girl at home, but shortly after the bus-petition episode I started writing letters to the editor on whatever interested me. I never mentioned my age — the letters got published like any adult’s would.

The point of this ancient history is that these young graduates are old enough — and angry and passionate enough — to have a role in trying to remedy this injustice to themselves. They may need a nudge and suggestion, or not. But I do think they will be happy to participate with you adults.

[Think. Again.]

4. It's stories like this that the media should be showing....

Maybe a call to a trusted news outlet is in order?

[MustLoveBeagles]

7. I'll run this by them

Thanks for the suggestion.

[RandySF]

5. That was piss poor service by the district.

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. Yes it was

They've already had very hard life. They deserved to have this moment go well. They worked very hard for it