Cross-dressing teen headed for 'Tyra' show
by Brandon Wilson
bwilson@mdjonline.com
October 10, 2009 01:00 AM | 1378 views | 4 4 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
COBB COUNTY- Jonathan Escobar, the student who withdrew after two day of attending North Cobb High School because administrators told him to tone down his attire - which includes wearing high heels, make-up and traditionally feminine clothing - is going on "The Tyra Banks Show."

The 16-year-old is scheduled to fly up to New York for a Wednesday taping of the syndicated, Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show. Jessica Fielder, the show's publicist, said a date for when the show will air has not yet been set.

Escobar said he has also been contacted by officials with the primetime news program "20/20."

"I'm glad people are hearing me out. I have my strong spots and, you know, why I think (what happened at North Cobb) is wrong. Hopefully I can help other people," Escobar said.

Escobar, who some believe is just an attention seeker who should not be in the media, said it was "everyone at the school" that tipped the media off to what happened at North Cobb. He said he only made one call to a network, which already knew his name and was anxious to hear from him.

But now that he has garnered such a spotlight, "It's cool, I don't mind," he said.

Escobar moved to Kennesaw from Miami and enrolled last week at North Cobb High. He was there Sept. 29 and Sept. 30. In his two days at the school, he wore feminine clothing, walked around in high heels donning a pink wig, which administrators said broke the dress code for wearing disruptive clothing, and used the women's bathroom. School officials said his behavior caused two school fights among students against him and those backing him up.

"I'm not going to dress like a man. I'm not going to wear depressing boring clothes. I'm going to express myself," he said in an interview with the Journal on Wednesday.

An administrative assistant met with Escobar, telling him to adhere to the dress code, school spokesman Jay Dillon said. The dress code outlaws wearing "any mode of dress which proves to contribute to any disruption of school functions."

Yet Escobar says the administrator "told me that in order to further my education at North Cobb I was to, you know, dress more manlier."

Dillon denies that anyone ever told the boy to dress more "manly."

Escobar responded, "The school is giving you a lie."

The dress code is set by the Cobb school board and enforced by the school.

When asked if the dress code is too vague, by simply stating that a student cannot wear clothing that causes a "disruption," School board Chairman Dr. John Abraham said not necessarily.

He said the district has "great principles and administrators and we give them the leeway to address these issues."

"The people at North Cobb were sensitive to this young man's situation," he said. "We may down the road revisit that, but right now, I am satisfied. Our major mission is education and learning. Anything that disrupts that has to be addressed. Each one of those kinds of situations has to be dealt with on a case-by-case situation. I'm comfortable with their decision."

Escobar withdrew on Oct. 2. Dillon said he was "never disciplined and was not forced out of North Cobb."

Escobar says he is looking to attend a different school in Cobb County, although on Friday he did not know which particular school that would be.

"If not, I am going to go back to Miami to beauty school," he said.
comments (4)
« Fed Up NC student wrote on Saturday, Oct 10 at 08:40 PM »
He was a HUGE distraction and the teachers had a hard time getting students back on track when they started talking about him. Is a HOT pink wig... hooker heals... makeup and low cut shirt not distracting on a boy? It was for me. I wish everyone would stop making it a big deal and stop putting all the blame on the school and the admin. The new principal is the best one i have ever had!
« loves cobb wrote on Saturday, Oct 10 at 12:38 PM »
He should not be getting all the attention he is getting. It is nothing but lies and the media loves things like this. Why don't they put the Principal on the shows and let them tell the truth. There had to be some good schools in Fl. that he could have gone to. He just wanted to cause trouble
« Spelling wrote on Saturday, Oct 10 at 10:58 AM »
Principals,not Principles.
« Jelene F. wrote on Saturday, Oct 10 at 10:15 AM »
Jonathan is getting everything he was seeking coming to Georgia - attention. If he put a fraction of the energy into being in school that he's put into wallowing in the media spotlight, he'd be settled in and learning! He's now spent three times as many days doing interviews as he actually did going to North Cobb.