"Feminist" T-Shirt Censored In Class Picture

Many say a picture is worth a thousand words. But one word is all one picture took to get people talking.

The word "feminist" printed on Sophie Thomas' t-shirt in the original 8th class picture at Clermont Northeastern Middle School is missing from the final product.

"I sat down. No one said anything to me," said Thomas. "I checked it to make sure I didn't look dumb or anything - closing my eyes. I saw that they I saw that they had removed the word from my shirt, and I was insanely upset."

The shirt doesn't violate the school's dress code, says Principal Kendra Young, who told Thomas the alteration was her decision.

Young claimed that the decision to remove the word from Thomas's shirt was because other people might find it offensive.

The principal declined an on-camera interview this week. She says the photo is typically purchased by students, and displayed in school. She claims they wanted to keep it as least controversial as possible.

"They didn't inform me about this," said Thomas. "They just did it without permission."

Her decision to wear the shirt on picture day, she says, was unintentional. She's worn it before, and this time, it was because of a conversation with another student.

"I was just showing everybody that this is me, and if you don't like it, you don't have to be my friend," said Thomas. "I'm going to stand up for what I believe in."

Thomas, her mother, and school officials met a few days ago. The plan is to start a bigger conversation about the social issue in the hallways.

"I'm happy that she's getting so much support behind something she really believes in," said Christine Thomas, Sophie's mother. "And so many people believe in her."