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Lots of love online for girl kicked out of prom for wearing suit

Posted at 12:10 PM, May 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-09 12:16:45-04

HARRISBURG, Penn. -- Usually when you hear about girls getting kicked out of proms, it's because their dresses are deemed too revealing. Aniya Wolf had somewhat of the opposite problem.

The high school junior wore a suit to prom, a sartorial choice that the school says was a direct violation of their very clear code.

Even though she was singled out at prom, Aniya is far from alone: A movement called #suitsforaniya has bubbled up on Twitter, and she already has an invitation to another school's prom.

Aniya has always preferred to dress more masculine, so when she was planning to attend Bishop McDevitt High School's prom, she knew a dress wouldn't do.

"I think my experience shouldn't be any different than anyone else's because of something I was born with," she told CNN affiliate WHTM. Aniya is a lesbian and identifies as female.

Online support

When Aniya's story got out, Twitter supporters began the #suitsforaniya movement. Some pledged to wear pants and suits in honor of Aniya's choice. They tweeted pictures of their outfits and questioned why a girl was not allowed to wear an formal outfit that was appropriately modest.

Another prom

Since she couldn't enjoy her own prom, a nearby school invited Aniya, suit and all.

Over the weekend, William Penn High School Principal Brandon T. Carter said Aniya and a date to come to the school's prom on May 21.

Aniya told WHTM she would be excited to attend.

Aniya's mother Carolyn Wolf also supports her daughter's choice, and said she tried to plead Aniya's case to the school.

"I told them that I had read the dress code that was given to the students and I didn't think that it precluded her from wearing a suit. I said that this was very unfair," she told WHTM. "I think my daughter is beautiful in a suit."

In a statement provided to CNN, Sister Mary Anne Bednar of Bishop McDevitt High School said it was nothing personal, and the dress code was made clear months in advance.

"Without question, we love, respect and cherish all of our students," she said. "The dress code for the prom specified girls must wear formal dresses. It also stated that students who failed to follow the dress code would not be admitted. The full dress code policy was sent to parents about three months ago. A reminder was sent to all students on March 6."

CNN has reached out to Aniya Wolf for comment.