No prom; lots of support for man who wore gown

Chicago Sun-Times - May 26, 2006
By Shamus Toomey
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-prom26.html

For the first time since being kicked out of his high school's prom for wearing women's clothes, a Gary teen returned Thursday to class — and to a wave of support from classmates and teachers.

"People were running up to me and wishing me good luck and everything," Kevin Logan, 18, said. "It makes me feel a lot better."

Logan became a nationwide conversation topic this week when he went public with his ouster from West Side High School's prom last Friday. The gay, cross-dressing high school senior wore a slinky fuchsia gown and strappy heels — only to be shown the door by school officials who have said Logan violated the prom's dress code.

At school, many well-wishers

Missing the big night still hurts, Logan says, but after attending his uncle's funeral earlier this week and dealing with other matters, Logan went back to class Thursday.

"Everybody's been saying nice things, telling me 'good luck.' People that I don't even know," he said. "It was hectic. I had security following me around like a criminal. Then all my friends started talking about prom. It hurts me to see their prom pictures, and I didn't get a chance to enjoy the moment."

Logan began wearing women's clothes to school this year, and says he has had run-ins with his principal, who was the one who booted him from prom. She couldn't be reached for comment Thursday, and district administrators did not return a message.

The prom night rejection didn't keep Logan from his clothes preference at school Thursday; he wore women's slacks, a fitted shirt and women's black boots with heels. "Everybody told me I was beautiful and looked nice today," he said.

'Not a night you can plan again'

Since telling his prom story publicly, media from all over have descended on Logan, who said his family is contemplating a lawsuit against the school.

"Prom isn't something you get to rewind," he said. "It's not a night you can plan again. I'm angry, but I'm hurt more than anything. She took something away from me.

"If my dress was disruptive... then half of the other females up in there that was half-naked was disruptive, too."

Logan's best friend invited him to her upcoming prom at another Gary high school, but Logan turned her down.

"I just wasn't into it," he explained. "I don't want to go through the same thing at her school."

Logan said he has enough credits to graduate this spring — a good thing for him because, despite the outpouring of support, he says he's not returning. "After today, I don't think I'm going to be able to go back," he said. "It was too much."