West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty: No longer just for girls

Stopping by the West Seattle Hi-Yu table at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival on Sunday, we found out Hi-Yu has just announced a big change: Boys are now welcome to apply to be Hi-Yu royalty, as well as girls.

The full announcement is on the Hi-Yu website, along with this link to the Junior Court application (which will download as a Word doc). The application has to be in by November 5th; this year’s Junior Court coronation is planned for the Hi-Yu Community Breakfast on November 9th. Girls and boys 8-12 years old are welcome to apply.

The Senior Court also will be open to both male and female candidates, and Hi-Yu says it’ll announce the application period soon. The next royalty will be part of a milestone – Hi-Yu’s 80th anniversary!

If you would like to get an application in person, Hi-Yu reps will be at the Hiawatha Community Center Halloween carnival this Friday night (one of the events are in the just-launched WSB Halloween Guide).

Marty October 21, 2013 (2:02 pm)

Really? Sometimes politically correctness goes a little bit too far..

kg October 21, 2013 (2:47 pm)

I applaud this move.

E October 21, 2013 (4:05 pm)

What a wonderful and refreshing idea. So happy to hear about this change.

WMF October 21, 2013 (4:07 pm)

Please explain how this is political correctness, and then please explain why it’s gone too far.

E October 21, 2013 (4:07 pm)

What a wonderful and refreshing idea. I think that’s a great change.

seaopgal October 21, 2013 (5:13 pm)

This is great! Boys should be eligible to participate in Hi-Yu, and hopefully this will bring some new life and fun to the event.

D.D.S. October 21, 2013 (6:21 pm)

WMF, Its called TRADITION.

WMF October 21, 2013 (7:30 pm)

I fail to see how putting one word in all caps is a suitable answer to a reasonable question.

Breezy October 21, 2013 (8:23 pm)

Does anyone know why they are making the change?

G October 22, 2013 (12:36 am)

Will this mean that the royal court will include a King and a prince(s)?

I would be interested to know what – and who – prompted the change, as it has traditionally been for girls. My sister was a Hi-Yu princess back in the old days.

Overall, it does make you wonder why it was so important to change a small community event, with so many opportunities for both boys and girls to participate in, in and outside of school. I don’t think anyone has any reason to feel shortchanged.

K October 22, 2013 (6:07 am)

I would bet it has more to do with the need for a larger volunteer pool than the need to be PC

How will that work seeing that Hi Yu funnels into to the Seafair program is Seafair also opening up to young men as well?

Change can be good for the right reasons?

Laurie October 22, 2013 (10:35 am)

There are scholarship opportunities for many pageant participants. Is this the case for HiYu?

AJP October 22, 2013 (1:46 pm)

So what if there are boys, a king and a prince. I mean really, so what??? Does it change the mission? Does it change the float? Does it change anything besides someone will be wearing a tux instead of a froo-froo gown? Just because something is a TRADITION doesn’t mean it can’t be tweaked.