A middle-school student in Menifee, Calif., had his Disney princess costume confiscated after a school administrator deemed it inappropriate.
According to a report from Los Angeles TV station KTLA, 13-year-old Austin Lacey dressed up as Elsa (from Disney's smash-hit animated musical Frozen) as part of spirit day celebrations at Ethan Chase Middle School on Thursday. Students had been encouraged to come to class that day dressed as characters from Disney movies, the station reports.
"I wore it for fun," Lacey told KTLA. "I'm one of those people who loves to go all-out."
And while Lacey's costume was a hit with his classmates -- who reportedly posed for selfies with the eighth-grader embodying the snow queen -- school officials didn't find the costume cool.
The prinicipal told Lacey to remove the costume, which consisted of a blue dress and long blonde wig, claiming it was causing a "disruption." Lacey had to change clothes, and the costume was reportedly confiscated.
"This action was taken in accordance with district policies," Dr. Julie Vitale, superintendent of Romoland School District, said in a statement. "At no time was there an indication that the student was expressing any particular message. ... The Principal's action was based upon the need to stop a general disruption to the school environment."
The superintendent's statement added that the district "prides itself on having policies and practices that support all students regardless of gender identity or gender expression."
But that's not how Lacey's mother understands the incident.
"[Lacey] was later informed that the principal does not believe that boys should be dressed like girls," Brooke Francev told the television station. "I can't believe that there are still people out there that hold those beliefs, especially on a day when it was all intended in good fun. It really shouldn't have been an issue."
"My son, personally, he's not a transgender student," Francev added. "But through this, he's really taken a stand on just the rights that all people have."
Watch the story unfold in the video below.
