A Wisconsin high school is ceasing the practice of handing out “big booty” and “big boobie” awards to cheerleaders after the American Civil Liberties Union demanded action.
The “gag” awards were given out by coaches at Tremper High School in the Kenosha Unified School District in addition to regular awards recognizing the most improved or hardest-working cheerleaders. The awards were handed out at an annual banquet event attended by more than 100 people.
Following at least two years of the “gag” awards being handed out, parents and school and district officials began to complain and the ACLU involved.
Earlier this week, the ACLU sent a letter to the district detailing the complaints and “expressing serious concerns regarding complaints of pervasive gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, body shaming, and victim blaming.”
We're demanding Tremper High School stop distributing objectifying awards, including awards for the "Biggest Booty," or "Biggest Boobies."
Students should be commended for their hard work, not their bodies.https://t.co/Cfl0VpwLtN
— ACLU (@ACLU) February 20, 2019
In the letter, the organization asked the Kenosha Unified School District to “take prompt corrective action.”
The district will be doing just that as spokeswoman Tanya Ruder said “awards of this nature are not acceptable” and will not be presented at future cheerleading banquets.
Last year, Kenosha paid $800,000 to settle a lawsuit with a transgender student who accused the district of discriminating against him.
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