Angus McCormack was returning to his hometown of Bendigo, Victoria, for a weekend with his father, excited at the prospect of attending an event which was organised by his former high school, Girton Grammar, in light of the annual Foundation Day Service – a service which honoured the school’s 133rd year.
‘My father was just one of many members of the school board, and asked me to accompany him to the event,’ Angus said.
‘This is of course was very fitting given that I was not only a past student, but also the school captain of 2013.’
Before attending, the school had requested that Angus wear ‘appropriate attire’ for the event.
Though it didn’t comply with his usual style, Angus obliged to make sure everyone had a stress-free evening.
He opted for a white shirt, black jacket, bow tie and some skinny leather trousers.
He said: ‘Now, those who know me are fully aware that I am openly gay and very confident in my often ‘bold’ choices of fashion (I was originally considering rocking a dress and some killer heels!)’
‘However, I decided to ‘tone down’ my appearance and be respectful to their wishes. Therefore, I decided to wear minimal makeup, a single small earring, neat black leather pants, a white shirt with a black bow tie and black designer jacket.
‘A suit by any definition of the word, although not in the typical commercial fabrics.’
Though Angus thought he looked extremely presentable and rather smart, the school didn’t agree.
After arriving to the event, he made his way into the building only to be approached by the deputy headmaster, who he says asked him to leave the building as he was ‘inappropriately dressed’.
‘To avoid further embarrassment and a potentially ugly scene, I decided to graciously turn away and walk out,’ Angus said.
