Indianapolis — Gay Indiana student Darnell Young, 17, is facing expulsion because he brought a stun gun to school to defend himself against bullies.

Young attends Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. The principal told reporters he is a "flamboyant" dresser and that the school had told him to "tone it down."

Still, Young said he was surrounded by six thugs in mid-April and had to use the stun gun to scare them off. He was suspended and is now facing expulsion.

"If you wear female apparel, then kids are kids and they're going to say whatever it is that they want to say," Principal Larry Yarrell told CNN.

"I do not promote violence - not at all - but what is a parent to do?" Young's mother, Chelisa Grimes, told CNN. "I did feel like there was nothing else left for me to do, but protect my child."