Students barred from homecoming court for giving out condoms

MULBERRY, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Two Florida high school students said they were disqualified from running for homecoming king and queen for handing out free condoms.

Montana Fulkerson and Dalton Wiggs, close friends who decided to run for homecoming court together at Mulberry High School, said they were informed Thursday they will not be allowed to run for king and queen at Friday's homecoming football game and the following dance, The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) reported Friday.

"I'm really upset, to be honest," Wiggs said. "It took way too much time and effort. And I've been waiting my whole high school career just to run for homecoming, and then they deny it and disqualify us the day before voting? It just doesn't make any sense."

Wiggs said he and Fulkerson gave out condoms to help them stand out from other candidates giving away free candy.

"It got really competitive," he said.

Wiggs said he and Fulkerson put stickers on the condoms reading, "Let's Wrap This Up."

"It was for safe sex and a play on words," he said.

Polk County School District spokeswoman Leah Lauderdale emailed a response to The Ledger's request for a comment.

"Students were distributing condoms to solicit homecoming votes. When school administration became aware, they immediately instructed the students to stop this inappropriate activity," Lauderdale wrote. "No students have been suspended from school; however, the students involved will not be allowed to participate in the homecoming activities. Homecoming is an extracurricular activity and participation is a privilege."