If The Lesbians Are Coming, Cancel Prom!
March 11, 2010 by Jason Shaw
Itawamba High School Canceled Prom Because Lesbian’s Wanted to go!
A Mississippi school has canceled its April 2nd prom because a lesbian student wanted to bring her girlfriend as her date, as was announced yesterday.
Last month Itawamba County Agricultural High School told an 18 year old student, Constance McMillen that she could not attend the prom with her girlfriend, whose also a student. They also told her she could not wear a a tuxedo. The school then sent out a memo saying no same sex couples would be allowed at the prom, it was against the rules.
McMillen quite rightly took her case to the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, and they called on the school to reverse their decision and allow McMillen and her girlfriend to attend.
In response the school board issued the following statement:
“Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year. It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors.”
Christine Sun, the ACLU’s senior attorney on gay rights said previously the ban on same sex dates at the prom violates McMillen’s constitutional rights.
“The school just can’t arbitrarily say you have to be an opposite-sex date to go to the prom.”
Kristy Bennett, ACLU legal director said, “the district was trying to avoid the issue by canceling the prom at short notice. “
But that doesn’t take away their legal obligations to treat all the students fairly,” Bennett added. “On Constance’s behalf, this is unfair to her. All she’s trying to do is assert her rights.”
Itawamba County is a rural area of roughly 23,000 people in north Mississippi near state line with Alabama, part of the bible belt.
Miss McMillen reportedly said the following to the local newspaper when they told her the news the school board had canceled the prom:
“Oh, my God. That’s really messed up because the message they are sending is that if they have to let gay people go to prom that they are not going to have one. A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this. I’m going to have to change schools or something.”
There is no word yet from McMillen or the ACLU on any possible legal proceedings, or what the next move will be. She may not have got to go to the prom with her girlfriend, but Miss McMillen has already shown incredible spirit and courage in standing up for her rights and for the rights of gay students everywhere.
Mr. Rick Mitchell - Assistant Principal
The above photo was taken from the
school’s website. Note the plaque above Mr. Mitchell’s head!
Jason Shaw, Brighton, England.
gayagenda.com’s UK Correspondent.
Jason’s own blog The Seafront Diaries can be found here, full of stories and tales of eccentric English life by the seaside!
© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw
I just read this story on another site, figured it would be here and it was.
The school board is full of cowards and they should be sued for violating her rights, I applaud her courage to stand up to this. High school can be a rough time for anyone, but for those of us who felt an attraction to the same sex it could be so much worse. What they are doing is completely cruel and unfair, she is already going to be singled out for being gay and this makes it harder for her.
I had two female friends in highschool who went to the prom together, just as friends and no one cared. Is it really such a big deal who dates who?
And yes I did notice that plaque, personally I’d like to shove his Bible down his throat so far it would come out the other end of him! Bigotry at it’s finest!
The school is clearly trying to use peer pressure to punish the student in their desire to impose a scientifically unsupportable prejudice on the entire student body. This is the same prejudice used to punish and deny gay people equal participation in a wide variety of social systems. It is also the same prejudice used to justify killing gay people in Uganda and other parts of the world, including here at home. When will these adults grow up, accept reality, and treat gay people the same way they themselves wish to be treated?
I hope there will be more to this story, this school board should be very ashamed of themselves! It’s as if they are punishing her just for being gay!
The school board was trying to suggest that a one of the families put on a private prom, and ask such they can invite who they want – more importantly exclude who they want.
There will be more on this story and we’ll try our best to bring it to you.