George Wythe High School graduate-to-be Khalifa Kane, left, gets a hug from Marianne Berkley as Ariel Finney, right, helps Charmeisha Bolling get ready for the graduation ceremony at Altria Theater in Richmond on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
Students wear different color caps and gowns at Thomas Jefferson High School’s graduation ceremony at Altria Theater in Richmond in 2018. This year, the school district requires schools to use one color cap and gown for everyone so they’re gender neutral.
Superintendent Jason Kamras talks before Governor Ralph Northam signs education legislation focused on school suspensions on Friday June 1, 2018, at Henderson Middle School.
Family members and guests waited in line Wednesday for George Wythe High School’s graduation at Altria Theater in Richmond. This year, each Richmond school chose one color for caps and gowns.
Family members and friends took photographs in 2019 as graduates-to-be at George Wythe High School in Richmond marched at their commencement ceremony. Only one in two George Wythe students graduated on time last year.
Seniors from Huguenot High School shared two things in common Tuesday night: They were graduating from high school and they were wearing the same color cap and gown.
That wasn’t always the case.
Richmond Public Schools started requiring gender-neutral caps and gowns this year, ending the decades-long practice of having separate colors for men and women. The move was made, Superintendent Jason Kamras said, to make sure every student feels welcome at graduation.
“We want to make sure our transgender and nonbinary students don’t have to suffer the indignity of being forced to express their gender in a manner contrary to their identity,” Kamras said. “Graduation should be a day of joy and celebration — not discrimination.”
Chesterfield County is the only other school system in the area that has single-color graduation attire. Hanover County leaves it to schools to decide, while Henrico County has two colors across its schools, but may switch to one color as soon as next year.
In previous years, Huguenot had dark green caps and gowns for male students, while female students wore white. This year, they all wore dark green. Each school got to pick its color.
“Having a single color for all graduates and not distinguishing based on gender acknowledges the academic success students are being celebrated for,” said Ted Lewis, the executive director of Side by Side, a Richmond-based advocacy organization for LGBTQ youth. “There’s no need to separate folks by gender in that moment.”
In moving to gender-neutral caps and gowns, Richmond joins a growing trend across the country.
Districts in Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island are among those that have adopted similar policies.
More than half the seniors at a Texas high school signed a petition protesting the school’s move to one color for caps and gowns. The school ultimately let students choose a color.
In Richmond, students at Open High School, where every graduate wore a black cap and gown, said they supported the district’s move, specifically highlighting their high school community and how as one class, they should wear one color.
“Everyone wearing the same color is appropriate,” said Milan Marsh, who will be attending the University of Virginia.
Said Virginia Military Institute-bound Beverley Buchanan: “We’re all graduating together and spent four years together, so it makes sense.”
Kamras initially announced plans to move to gender-neutral caps and gowns last graduation season. It was met with support, except for one school board member.
Jonathan Young, who represents the city’s 4th District, said he still doesn’t approve of the switch.
“We should be celebrating all of our uniqueness including gender, faith, ethnicity, etc. — not dismissing it,” Young said.
Young voted against a student code of conduct earlier this month that gives additional protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and queer students. The code of conduct, which goes into effect next school year, is more extensive than any of Richmond’s neighbors when it comes to LGBTQ student protections.
“I’m grateful the district continues to set an example by implementing gender-neutral policies and practices,” said School Board Vice Chairwoman Liz Doerr. “Right in time for pride month, I’m proud that we adopted more inclusive LGBTQ+ policies and implemented gender-neutral graduation robes.”
Students in Chesterfield schools all wear the same color, a district spokesman said.
In Hanover, each high school decides what color its caps and gowns will be.
Atlee and Hanover high schools use one color for all caps and gowns, while Lee-Davis and Patrick Henry have different-colored caps and gowns.
Henrico high schools have two-color caps and gowns. Male students at Mills Godwin High School, for example, wore red this year, while female students wore white.
In some cases, though, students have asked to wear the color of their choice, and a district spokesman said that isn’t an issue.
The county could soon join Richmond in moving to one color.
Andy Jenks, the school system’s spokesman, said principals have been discussing the switch and talking about it with students and parents.
“Based on that, it appears that there is growing support to move to a single color in 2020,” he said. “I wouldn’t say a change is a done deal, though.”
Jenks said the principals are still considering it, and “any decision would be made together with the students and families of the Class of 2020.”
jmattingly@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6012
Twitter: @jmattingly306
