For Jessee Vasold ’11, the first transgender person elected as a class homecoming queen at the College of William and Mary, the day’s events were not anything too out of the ordinary.
As a member of the court, Vasold attended the pep rally and parade. Vasold was presented at the football game during halftime.
“It was pretty normal,” Vasold said. “The only difference I feel like from anyone else was that after halftime, a reporter wanted to talk to me.”
Vasold’s selection was only the third time that a transgender person has won the title of homecoming king or queen at an institute of higher education in the United States.
“It’s still a new thing and I think that it might surprise people coming from William and Mary,” Vasold said. “I kind of expected that it would be this big … at least on the [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning] news websites and locally.”
Vasold identifies as gender-queer. According to Vasold, gender-queer is a concept that can be adopted by anyone who feels that they do not fit into traditional gender classification, or anyone who sees the gender binary as an oppressive social institution and wishes to protest against it.
“It’s kind of a political identity, while simultaneously being a gender identity,” Vasold said. “And a lot of times you might see the people … just changing from day-to-day. Some people identify as gender-fluid, so what their gender is may depend on how they dress.”
According to Vasold, personal reactions to Vasold’s crown have only been positive. Vasold has received e-mails and Facebook messages from well-wishers all over the country.
Vasold’s selection as junior class homecoming queen has lead many at the College to question what the nature of the position should be.
“That just puts into question what a homecoming queen really is,” Emily Matson ’12 said. “Does a homecoming queen really have to be a girl through and through? Or is it more about having the physical appearance of a girl? … I think it puts a lot of definitions that we’ve traditionally assumed into question.”
The Office of Student Affairs has not heard any positive or negative reactions from alumni or students.
“I have not personally had any reactions at all. Nobody has called our office or anything like that,” Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Mark Constantine said.
Many students are unconcerned with Vasold’s selection as junior class homecoming queen.
“I don’t even think it’s a big deal at all,” Adriana Green ’12 said. “If he was voted, he was elected, so obviously a lot of people know him and like him. I think it should be more about personality anyway.”
Online message boards, however, have become a forum for those both in support of and against Vasold.
“I know that this is probably something new to them, but I think that they maybe need to just stop for a second and think about that they’re talking about a person,” Vasold said.
The election of Vasold as junior class homecoming queen has also gained the attention of national media outlets.
The Huffington Post cited the College’s homecoming election Monday, and Bill O’Reilly of Fox News brought up Vasold in the “Reality Check” segment of “The O’Reilly Factor” Monday night.
While Vasold’s family did not initially agree with Vasold’s acceptance of the junior class homecoming queen crown, Vasold said they have shown love and support.
The family has also been concerned for Vasold’s safety, given the media coverage of the election and angry reactions online.
“My sister has been really upset about the comments, not only on The Flat Hat website, but on other websites,” Vasold said. “She said, ‘They’re really hurtful, because you’re not an it. You’re my brother. You’re not an it.’”
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34 Comments
This “Homecoming Queen”
This “Homecoming Queen” imbroglio has unfortunately been reduced to a silly and pointless political stunt, one seeking to elevate the visual profile of the very small minority of transgendered and homosexual community at William & Mary. While there are many other, less offensive ways they could have made their points heard, it is regretable that they saw fit to trample on a respected and time-honored tradition in order to bring their rather narrow “cause” to the attention of society. However, these juvenile gender-confused pranksters should show a little maturity and curtail their “crusade” (perhaps even with a polite apology) and return to their quiet cross-gendered lives on campus, and put this ridiculous little “tempest in a teapot” behind us. If that doesnt happen soon, my concern is that this escapade willl lead to a range of “unintended consequences”, such as more bad press for the College, which in turn could reduce alumni contributions to the College and undermine all the good programs (including scholarships) and improvements that such faithful alumni support. It could also have a potentially negative effect on the quality of student applicants for several years to come while the memory of this unfortunate event is still fresh in our memory. Finanally, it could have a disquieting effect on the State Legislature in Richmond, on which the College depends for a large part of its operating budget. And I think we all know how conservative legislators could behave when they are “offended” or “embarrassed” by negative national and regional press about “tradition-bashing” on campus. In short, the recent selfishly motivated actions relating to “Homecoming Queen” could set our beloved College back in a number of ways, all of which I am sure were quite unintended, but nonetheless almost predictable. So, back to your studies, boys and girls. Enough of a “dust-up” for one semester. Make us all proud to have you as future alumni to W&M, no matter what your gender or “cross-gender”. Its a Big Tent, just be careful not to kick it in the teeth when better ways to communicate your cause are available and would be more sympathetically received by all who are watching.
Pretty Ladyboys Ladyboys
Pretty Ladyboys
Ladyboys from Asia are looking for friendship and love with men
www.LadyboyKisses.com
Does anyone else find it ironic that this is one of the google ads on the right side of the page?
Also, does anyone know if ladyboykisses.com is a worthwhile service?
I think all can agree
I think all can agree regarding the importance of this victory.
However, one area of the college experience remains extremely gender prejudiced.
When will our fraternities and sororities embrace the transgendered community?
I don’t think any transgendered dudes or dudettes received bids this year.
If we need a more competitive group of gender queers, we could import some from VCU, I guess.
Imagine…..a group of 10 or 11 Jessee Vasolds doing the elephant walk in the quad. What a beautiful thing.
I’m an alum, and I’m
I’m an alum, and I’m not spinning over in anything. In fact, I’m quite proud to be associated with an institution that recognizes that not all people come from the same cookie-cutter mold and that the intrinsic worth of the individual is something to be celebrated, not suppressed. Congratulations, Jessee! (And as a former Flat Hat Editor – Felicia, nicely written!)
who gives a sh** about the
who gives a sh** about the homecoming court. the football team beat jmu. that’s the only story that matters.
As an alum who became a
As an alum who became a professor, I was surprised and delighted — you heard me — to see this news. Surprised because by and large, W&M is a pretty conservative place, delighted that in the 25 years since my time there our culture has become far less ignorant of the realities of transgender identity, and today’s W&M students obviously reflect that. Good for them — it’s clear that despite their absence from most of the comments here, critical thinking and acceptance of difference are still practiced in some places.
It’s humorous that you
It’s humorous that you have to insult those that post comments disagreeing with yours, it demonstrates again how close minded you.
Just as Children are a
Just as Children are a reflection of the parents. The students are a reflection of the University.
Must be a confussing school to attend if no one knows if they are xy or xx.
I think my daughter will want to attend elsewhere.
I doubt you know what
I doubt you know what chromosomal composition you have. Most of the students here are quite comfortable with the knowledge they possess about their bodies without having to know that.
I’m sorry you think your daughter wouldn’t be happy somewhere where all sorts of different people attend with a minimum of harassment. I’m sure that among the many people here, she would be able to find progressives, liberals, conservatives, and apathetic people to fit in with, depending on how her outlook on life changes as she goes to college.
Don’t be discouraged,
Don’t be discouraged, this is a great school to attend while still upholding conservative values. It is a very small percentage of the student body that are as ignorant and radical as this article makes it out to be!
I hope this is true.
I hope this is true. Becuase I took my son and his friend to visit W&M this past Saturday. Both were very interested in the school but now have reservations. The father of my son’s friend is an alum. He’s over 60 and when his son brought the school paper home his father was flabberghasted. He pushed his son to apply early decision and now they are stuck if he gets accepted. His father was very dissappointed with the paper’s content, he even thought it must be an alternative student paper when he saw the “Open Mind, Open Legs” sex column that appears to be a regular feature. I was just shocked at this and a few other things I witnessed. Still I did speak to some other african americans (students) that encouraged my son to attend and said the same thing you did about there only being a small minority of crazies on campus. Unfortunately they said many were faculty members.
Hahaha, this is hilarious.
Hahaha, this is hilarious. You know this is WM right? Probably one of the most uptight places in the country? Have you ever been to a Virginia Tech or a Penn St.? Sounds like your son will have a great time at Bob Jones University or Liberty based on these views.
We’ve visited Virginia
We’ve visited Virginia Tech, my oldest daughter graduated from UVA and my older son graduated from Randolph Macon. I’ve visited many private and public campus in Virginia in the past 6 years and what I experienced this past Saturday was out of the ordinary realm. I’m a moderate Democrat, but this is just ridiculous. I just hope it was a rare occurrence in the overall W&M experience. As for your mention of Jones College or Liberty, I have only heard of Liberty previously but only in the sports pages, so I don’t really know anything about them. But I assume this was some type of juvenile attempt at an inferred insult.
A lot of people are making
A lot of people are making assumptions about Jessee’s sex. None of you know what ze might actually have in hir pants. And Jessee probably doesn’t even know hir chromosomal makeup. To require that the College require all nominated candidates to have their chromosomes tested is ridiculous because it more than likely isn’t covered on student health insurance plans. Just saying.
Just pointing out that
Just pointing out that Vasold’s own sister reportedly referred to HIM as her BROTHER.
I’m sorry, but you
I’m sorry, but you accidentally used the wrong pronoun – you must have meant “referred to ZIR as her BROTHER.” I’m sure you weren’t being willfully ignorant just to be offensive.
Slash, “HIR as her
Slash, “HIR as her BROTHER”.
It gets difficult when some of the papers report one thing and some report another. Ze actually uses ze/hir but sometimes it is easier to refer people to what an article used, which was ze/zir in most cases.
Marlene, It is clear from
Marlene,
It is clear from your post that you have a personal agenda. As far as the “clueless conservatives,” aware you are that this country is founded upon conservative ideals? Progressive liberal thought is destroying America from the inside out. You and the rest of your liberal cohorts seem to feel that you are being slighted. The so called progressives believe that America owes them something. They don’t feel that they have to work hard or do anything, the government and hard working americans (Conservatives, ironically enough being the most successful “group”) must provide for them. The declining numbers are in direct proportion with the decline of morals and values in America. You, my friend are part of the destruction of this country. Like it or not, America was founded upon conservative Christian values and morals. The only one on the side of the road running a shovel are the progressives and liberals as they did the hole that this country has found itself in deeper and deeper.
Thanks to people like you, my children are exposed to reprehensible displays of debauchery and deviance. I will continue to fight you as will the silent and sad majority waiting to rise up. I just thank god that I have dedicated my life to locking up the scum of the earth for a living, the same people that you and the progressives want society to take pity on as they destroy our communities. You weak fools ! You have no idea the damage that you have created. Have mercy on your soul, because I won’t have mercy if your destructive ideals cross my path.
Marlene, are you also aware
Marlene, are you also aware this nation was founded by slave-owners? Would you like to go back to “them good ole days” too?
Not Offensive, Just
Not Offensive, Just Stupid
Perhaps next year the College of William and Mary should clarify. In order to be a homecoming King, you must have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, and to be a homecoming Queen, you must be in possession of two X chromosomes. It saddens me that Vasold feels that it is opressive to be in possession of only one X chromosome. Women of the world should unite and donate one of their X Chromosomes to people like Vasold, or maybe we can set up an exchange program with “transgender” females who long for a Y chromosome. This seems just a s scientifically sound as a “fluid gender identity” that is “changing from day to day”. But this wasn’t just about a confused young male, this was as much a political stunt exploiting the lemming quality of the William and Mary student body as it was a protest against science. Vasold said himself that this was as much about “political identity” as it was about his own personal neurochemical imbalance that causes him to wish to be female.
Again, Vasold, I’m sorry that you feel oppressed by nature, but it until you no longer posses the equipment and the Y chromosome, save the position of Homecoming Queen for those who were fortunate enough be born with two X chromosomes.
Are you suggesting WM
Are you suggesting WM require chromosome testing for eligibility to the Homecoming court? What happens to someone with an extra X chromosome? What about someone who thinks she has two X chromosomes, only to find out later that she actually has an X and a Y chromosome, despite appearing anatomically and having been raised female?
Science Ok so you’re not
Science
Ok so you’re not much of a science person, are you? Individuals who are born with triple X syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome have nothing to do with the gay/lesbian movement that is sweeping the nation. Triple X individuals are, in fact female and individuals born with Klinefelter syndrome are in fact male and typically exhibit learning disabilities. While it is true that sexual orientation and gender identification do seem to be genetically based, it has nothing to do with the sex chromosomes, and is most likely due to predisposed chemical imbalances in the brain. And while we can’t say for sure if Vasold has Klinefelter syndrome, it is unlikely and irrelevant to this debate, because even if he does have Klinefelter syndrome he still is in possession of that pesky Y chromosome that makes him male.
There’s actually been a
There’s actually been a lot of research done on this that suggests that chromosomes have nothing to do with the sex of a baby. People born with innies sometimes have XY chromosomes. People born with outies sometimes have XX chromosomes. Neither of those things are related to their gender identities or presentations which is what the king v. queen question really comes down to.
Have YOU ever had your chromosomes tested? It’s an extremely expensive test that’s typically only done if someone shows signs of a chromosomal disorder.
Also, are you suggesting that being gay or trans/gender-variant is an imbalance?
Kudos to the students of
Kudos to the students of W&M for their progressive attitude in voting Jessee as their homecoming queen!
As a male-to-female transgender approaching her 50th year, it gladdens my heart to see the trans youth of today attempting things unheard of when I was their age: transitioning either before college or while in college, running for student legislatures, and even running for homecoming kings and queens!
The reactions from the clueless conservatives is sadly typical — their lack of being able to adapt to the evolution of American society is proving they cannot be trusted with running anything but maybe a shovel at the side of the road — and definitely NOT running any sort of government body — as their declining numbers show!
Jessee — hold your head high, my sister/brother — I applaud you and your friends, and I hope the rest of your college career goes well, and may you exceed in whatever path you desire after graduation!
As a graduate of W&M, I
As a graduate of W&M, I have to admit that I am disturbed by this situation. If W&M is to maintain its position as one of the top educational institutions in the country, these silly stunts need to come to an end.
“Vasold identifies as gender-queer. According to Vasold, gender-queer is a concept that can be adopted by anyone who feels that they do not fit into traditional gender classification, or anyone who sees the gender binary as an oppressive social institution and wishes to protest against it.”
Vasold is saying that being classified as a male or female is oppressive? You either have a penis and you are a man, or you have a vagina and you are a woman ! This is not a social institution, this is science. What is the point of making this spectacle? What are you protesting against? What has happened to family morals and values. Is this the type of activity that my contributions to the College Fund support? Credibility is everything in the academic world, and W&M is losing it. Shame.
Neither gender nor sex is
Neither gender nor sex is as straightforward as you attempt to make them sound. Sex cannot simply be classified as penis/vagina. Other possibilities exist on this spectrum (hermaphrodites, women with three X chromosomes, etc.); science doesn’t support your point after all. But gender is different anyway – about personal identification as male or female and the cultural and societal outcomes of the choice.
Don’t morals and family values encourage respect and acceptance? None of your money went to elect Vasold. More than credibility, the academic world is about the opportunity to think progressively and move beyond ingrained systems – to discover what could be instead of what is. The student body made a decision – take their lesson to be more open-minded in your own life.
Actually, strangely enough,
Actually, strangely enough, scientists and doctors alike find it incredibly useful to classify sex in the following way: XX= girl, XY= boy, XXX= girl with triple X syndrome, XXY= boy with Klinefelter syndrome (a chromosomal condition causing sterility, lowered testoserone levels, and learning disabilities, but not the magical appearance of a vagina).
i am confused why the
i am confused why the queen’s sister refers to him/her/whatever as her “brother” @ the end? anybody who is being referred to by his/her own FAMILY member as a “brother” or another male term should not be allowed to be queen.
Just FYI, the correct
Just FYI, the correct pronoun in both places in your post is zir or hir (Jessee uses hir, but zir is also a gender neutral pronoun and as it was reported that Jessee uses it in several places, I can see where the misunderstanding comes from.). Just thought I’d clear that up for you, as you seem confused.
For one thing, family members often have a hard time changing the way they refer to people they have known all of their lives. Sometimes trans people are even okay with their families calling them by the terms they have used for years for this very reason. For another, not everyone’s family is immediately accepting of new things. In some families, members have a hard time with such issues due to tradition, religion, etc. But they can still love and support each other.
Finally, there aren’t any qualification requirements around gender for any of the homecoming positions. A man could have run for queen, although none did and, if elected, would have been qualified because the students voted, as they did for Jessee. Ze is perfectly able to carry out the responsibilities of being a Homecoming Queen, and ze did.
I heard William & Mary has
I heard William & Mary has changed it’s name to William is Mary because of the Homecoming Queen pick.
Is this True??
Well, you’re half right.
Well, you’re half right.
The entire college has broken into two violent camps: The Conservative, traditionalist “Ampersanders” who want to remain William & Mary, and the Liberal extremist “Copulas,” who want to change it to “William Is Mary.”
The Copulas, perhaps in a fit of dyslexia, have stormed the Wren building and are now using the Wren Cupola as their home base. Only time will tell how this will play out, if the two sides will ever join hands in peace.
I’m sorry, but the former
I’m sorry, but the former alumni must be turning over in thier graves. I guess the title is accurate: “homecoming QUEEN” . Between this and Moorehead MEN’S collage having to add a NO FEMALE CLOTHING Rule just shows how far our country has gone from what it was founded on, IN GOD WE TRUST. So instead of William and Mary, should the college be called William the Fairy?
Zzzzzzing! Got any more?
Zzzzzzing! Got any more?
“Vasold’s selection was
“Vasold’s selection was only the third time that a transgender person has won the title of homecoming king or queen at an institute of higher education in the United States.”
One of the MANY things Bill O’Reilly got wrong last night. Thanks, FH, for the details.
Also, dare I say it, First post twice in a row?