A group of California high school students has been disciplined after posing for a photo in which they arranged their shirts to spell a homophobic slur — an incident that has unsettled the local school community.
Ten students from Redwood High School, located southeast of Fresno, wore white T-shirts bearing individual letters and stood together on gym bleachers for what was intended to be a senior class photo. According to YourCentralValley.com, the group initially posed for an image spelling “Always Legit, Class of 2026,” but later rearranged themselves to spell a slur, substituting the number “6” for the letter “g.”
The photo circulated on social media and drew the attention of school administrators. In a statement, Visalia Unified School District Superintendent Kirk Shrum said officials were aware of the image and condemned the behavior as unacceptable and hateful.
District spokesperson Cristina Gutierrez told the San Francisco Chronicle that the episode was particularly troubling because several of the students involved held student government roles, amplifying the impact on the school community.
By the end of the week, the district announced that “appropriate disciplinary action” had been taken against the students, according to YourCentralValley.com. Officials did not disclose specific penalties, but under district policy the students could face suspension or expulsion.