Dustin Drake, left, poses in his ‘Pink Day’ outfit. (Photo: CBS11)
A Texas student was reportedly sent home from school for his boisterous outfit at an annual “Pink Day” in honor of breast cancer on Friday. Having lost his mother to the disease last year, 17-year-old Dustin Drake went head to toe in a bright pink wig, pink glasses, a pink shirt, pink tutu, pink knee-high socks, and pink shoes with the Susan B. Komen label.
“Everything was pink,” he summarized. “[Breast cancer awareness] close to my heart, the way I feel about it.”
But school administrators objected to the outfit, and according to CBS11, pulled Drake out of class and called his father.
“My reaction was a little of disgust toward the school district that they would have a Pink Out and then send people home that were above their standard,” Ben Drake, the boy’s father commented.
Dustin Drakes speaks to CBS11 about the significance of his outfit. (Photo: CBS11)
The day is particularly special for the teen because “Pink Day” fell just three days before his mother died last year, he said. At the time, he wore the exact same wild outfit in an attempt to cheer her up.
“To me, it’s probably the last thing she saw,” Drake told CBS11 with emotion. “Battling cancer is all a mind game. You have to stay strong in your head to be strong in your body.”
School administrators from Red Oak High School, however, remained firm.
“Students and staff were given the option to elect to wear jeans and a pink t-shirt,” a statement read. They added that they were aware of how the boy’s mother died, but that he wasn’t the only one punished for the garment violation, and that parents were allowed to bring approved clothing to school.
Watch CBS11′s report, below:
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Comments (43)
GLENNONALL
Oct. 30, 2012 at 6:12amThe school officals were tipped off that they saw a Romney bumper sticker on his fathers car.NEVER drive your child to school with a republican bumper sticker on your car.
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sillyfreshness
Oct. 31, 2012 at 1:59amThis kid dressed up like Elton John. I’m all about finding a cure for all cancers, but seems like everyone must focus on breast cancer since it affects women. Nobody cares about prostate cancer since that’s a man’s disease.
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SERUM
Oct. 29, 2012 at 8:42pmI’m glad this kid is acting outward in a positive manor. I lost my father when I was young and turned inward with my emotions, and of course they eventually came out when I became a teen. I thank God I’m alive for all I went through… God bless this young man.
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Metallicat
Oct. 29, 2012 at 8:05pmWhat I find disgusting is that you cant help support breast cancer research without help funding abortion as well. I refuse to support any of these ‘pink’ initiatives now,after being deceived.
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Balpit
Oct. 30, 2012 at 12:18amIronically, abortions increase health risks, such as breast cancer.
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ChiefGeorge
Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:26pmMore men were died last year by colon and prostrate cancers than women were killed by breast cancer. Ever more people in general died in car crashes. Cancer is not good for anyone but I am appalled at how its being used to segregate and create victims where the perp is not even human. We need to invent oppressors to motivate people to action? I guess so!
So we need to have national mens or colon/prostrate cancer awareness month? We need to be aware of it because there is no cure. So lets start walking guys and wearing wristbands.
Now we have 5 hour energy drink capitalizing on this matter related to cancer where a portion of the proceeds goes to cancer research. Yea right! Cancer comes in many deadly forms but somehow this is the one they could use to once again create a sense of victimhood over. I feel for the young lad, but people die everyday of all sorts of ills, why such the overtop sympathy for this cancer? Because it affect women and that is not acceptable….men not so much.
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Jenny Lind
Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:43pmTry getting ANYONE to contribute to lung cancer-even though 50% and a bit more never smoked or lived with someone who did and that percentage is growing That’s the “tough stuff” cancer thay get’s no help or caring from anyone including the medical profession to a large degree-except to make money off of and experiment with. (Yes, I am a tad ticked, all cancer is cancer, and needs research and compassion).
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SgtB
Oct. 29, 2012 at 10:23pmI agree. I’ve lost an uncle to lung cancer and my wife’s grandmother to breast cancer. Chances are that she too will have it at some point as both her grandmother and her aunt on that side have had it. But you won’t see me going out and buying pink crap to litter my closet meaninglessly.
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krenshau
Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:07pm“My reaction was a little of disgust toward the school district that they would have a Pink Out and then send people home that were above their standard,”
Wouldn’t want anyone to be above the standard.
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ghostsouls
Oct. 29, 2012 at 6:08pmHe should have said he was gay and they would have left him alone…
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BurntHills
Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:57pmanother godless classless obamacommunist democrat school board who needs to be totally replaced as soon as we know that 100% AMERICAN President Romney is safely in the WH. ===
that boy’s mom DIED of breast cancer, in a Godly kind and decent America he definitely gets Special Dispensation.
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loveliberty83
Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:25pmwith all the money why np cure
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Metallicat
Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:07pmSo if youre honoring your mom,you can break any rule you want and deserve special treatment over everyone else? This is the guy that shows up for work in his brand new duds,and thinks he shouldnt have to work very hard cuz he might get them dirty.
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Metallicat
Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:41pmIf he was truely honoring his mom he would prove he was raised well enough to follow the rules. A pink T shirt with her face on it would seem more about honoring her,but his costume seems all about drawing attention to himself.
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Cavallo
Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:00pmSo to honor his deceased mother he goes out in public looking foolish? Don’t criticize him, his mother died? I hope none of my offspring ever attempt to honor me by purposefully dressing foolish. Most of this is likely narcissistic. “Pay attention to me! My mother is dead! I can do WHATEVER I want!” It might sound cold, but I am seriously overloaded on all this extraneous disease/cause/emotional circus parade of the day.
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Dalady
Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:30pmYes, he is honoring his mother. Yes he looks foolish, but it’s a healthy outlet for his grief. If he went to school like that every day then it’s a problem.
He is a child who watched his mother wither and die. Yes, you do sound cold. Have mercy and be sure your offspring know your wishes.
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vbell
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:31pmI stand with Dustin!
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LovinUSA
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:25pmWow , what a bunch of crap hounds, ONE DAY – PINK, s-o-o-o-o-o freaking what? I’m a seniior citizen, and I think you inconsiderate, unfeeling , inensitive people missed this young guys message, not only to his MOM but his respect for women who have this disease, and you have to come down on this guy because you thought what????? If you don’t like ORIGINALITY, THOUGHTFULNESS, NERVE, and ENTHUSIASM, then you people aught not to be teaching, and don’t even allow “Your stupid idea of pink day” There sure is enough sadness AND STRESS in the world today and you have to make it worse by being “DICK HEADS” I hope you are proud of your selves for jerking this poor kid around like you did, and others too, they were just having fun or have you forgotten what GOOD CLEAN FUN is all about? Your the ones who are in violation, you forgot how to be a FUN LOVING KID !
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OniKaze
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:40pmAgreed…..
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The Jewish Avenger
Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:23pmRespect for women?
Oh right, for the ones that are living…
The ones that are in the womb are fair game.
Pink ribbions = aborted fetuses now.
I remember when shortly after my friends mother died of breast cancer, they came out with the self examination awareness program. He was devastated for my friends father found the lump (go fig) and the hospitals were doot da doo over how to handle it.
But my friend would rather kill a puppy then to wear this pro-abortionist color crap in order to PROVE that they are for a CURE for breast cancer… go get your pill crushed filled pudding from the orderlies, the rest of us will honor our fallen the RIGHT way: with love and respect.
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4xeverything
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:19pmIt sounds to me like the school was saying that no one is special…you’re all just numbers…step back in line and remain there.
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jungle J
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:19pmWhack jobs teach our children to be whack jobs. He dis respected his mom by looking like a clown rather than a heart broken child.
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scdave
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:16pmMy wife has breast cancer. I saw a fire truck that was painted with a sign that said “awareness for all cancers” I agree with that message.
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sta
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:56pmIf that were my son, I would have driven him back to the school with a sign that says, “I wore this for Breast Cancer Awareness to honor my mother who died of this disease” I would have called every news outlet and when they arrived, told them about what the principal had done.
Let the chips fall where they may.
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imsteph
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:17pmAmen.
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justangry
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:54pmOh rats… What a punishment to be sent home instead of being indoctrinated with commie BS. Playstation or Marxists ideology classes? It’s a no brainer. He’s getting real life experience as a drone pilot at home…
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Metallicat
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:54pmWhen are women gonna start helping out with bringing attention to Prostate Cancer? I notice men are expected to wear pink in support of women everywhere,including ruining football,but when are they gonna help us? why are womens issues only worthy of attention? When is “Blue” day? Stop making athletes wear pink during sporting events,and put it on the cheerleaders and give them more coverage during halftime,instead of making a sport unbearable to watch by uglying everything up with pink. More guys would support that way I think,if enticed by a cheerleader in pink,instead of a fat sweaty guy in pink
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Cavallo
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:20pmAlways the short end of the stick. How many people even know that Prostate Cancer has a blue ribbon? I had to look it up. How man special programs or advertizing campaigns are there for men and heart disease, not just heart disease in general. How many special programs are there to help boys do well in math and science? Any? It is exceedingly difficult to care about others special problems when in your problems you are simply expected to suck it up and drive on, or die horribly, but do so with quiet dignity. Women don’t really want to be equal to men. They want their cake and to eat it too.
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nzkiwi
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:26pmAnd the cheerleaders could wear pink athletic supp… oh never mind… I’m already going to hell…
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jimikimble
Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:03pmErin Andrews. I see her promoting prostate cancer awareness every time I watch Fox Sports college football. Nothing wrong with promoting any cancer awareness or awareness about any issue. Ignorance doesn’t help anything. Breast cancer isn’t getting special attention, just lots of it. Everyone knows someone who has struggled with this problem.
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Carrie3570
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:50pmHere’s the thing. If the option was a pink t-shirt and jeans, then that is what he should have worn. It was not pink costume day at school. – If your work has casual Friday, would you be able to wear a costume?
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sta
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:59pmIf my employer had a “Pink-Out” and I was sent home for wearing this outfit, I would find a new job.
This is not a casual Friday. It’s a one day event and the kid’s mother died a year before. It’s cold.
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Carrie3570
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:12pmThis event was not for the kids mother. It was a day all students and staff had the opportunity to wear a pink t-shirt and jeans to support a cause. It was not a day for costumes. What he wore is a costume.
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Metallicat
Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:20pmIm sure this was all staged as a cheap PR stunt to increase dontations. He knew what the acceptable standard was,and was probably encouraged to disobey it by the Koman foundation,so they are seen as the victims and draw support,since the donations have declined due to their flip flopping on funding abortions.
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bdandsl
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:49pmIt’s like these people are just out looking for something to bitch about!
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HotFixIt
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:46pmToo much attention paid to what the kids are wearing.. makes the kids more intent on making a statement with clothing any way they can. It’s all about power and control.. nothing more.
I bet the school waited to send him home after they did the census for the day so they get paid for his attendance that day….
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voting-for-romney
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:40pmThat’s outrageous to send the boy home.
Just like it is outrageous to think that a Democrat advertising agency, can make an advertisement using children singing about politics, as though we are supposed to elect politicians based on the peer pressure of the mental intellect of children who have not graduated school yet?
Don’t the minds of children send any warning signs to their little hearts at all, you don’t know what you are talking about, these people are just trying to cement the failed policies of the past by brain washing children who can not understand the issues, the political right to challenge theories versus facts, and that the only thing we get by brain washing children, is the continuance of racism, the spread of violence committed by Muslims, and cementing the tyranny of communist dictators around the world?
Those who want to hear real children sing, should hear the sound of little girls saying Rush Hudson Limbaugh, mmm mmmm mmmm?
What comes around goes around?
Vote for Obama, na na na na, hey hey hey Good BYE :)!!
Vote for Obama, NAH NAH NAH, HEY HEY HEY GOOD BYE!
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Margyt
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:38pmGood for him. Small price to pay for honoring his mother. Especially moving is that he wore the outfit for her before she died.
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godlovinmom
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:34pmThats overboard…..ummmmm…have these school officials been in a hollween store lately…one would think they would like the “boy” wearing pink…diversity and all!
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Metallicat
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:32pmI wish I could have the money back that my employer practically bullied me into donating to the Susan B Komen Foundation. If I had known that money was funding abortion as well,I would have never given them a dime. They misled me to believe it was only for breast cancer.
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PATTY HENRY
Oct. 29, 2012 at 3:44pmMy beef with them (KOMAN) is that they don’t really help anyone. They are really good at fund-raising, but what do they do to help women who have cancer? I know this from first hand experience in trying to help a friend. They are great at events, etc. but what about Cancer Victims. I’ll be happy to see if anyone here has had a good experience with them. Like the RED CROSS whose area presidents make over $ 300K plus penthouse ( like the one in San Diego) I think that these “Charities” need to be looked at again…however I know the RED CROSS does a lot more than KOMAN. ANYONE know about KOMAN?
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