Prom cancelled after lesbian's date request

[Nina~ 431]

JACKSON, Miss. – A northern Mississippi school district will not be hosting a high school prom this spring after a lesbian student sought to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

The Itawamba County school district's board decided Wednesday to drop the prom because of what it called recent distractions but without specifically mentioning the girl's request, which was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The student, 18-year-old high school senior Constance McMillen, said the cancellation was retaliation for her efforts to bring her girlfriend, also a student, to the April 2 dance.

"A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this, so in a way it's really retaliation," McMillen told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson. Calls to McMillen by The Associated Press late Wednesday went unanswered.

School policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex. The ACLU of Mississippi had given the district until Wednesday to change that policy, arguing that banning same-sex prom dates violated McMillen's constitutional rights.

Instead, the school board met and issued a statement announcing it wouldn't host the event at Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events."

The statement didn't mention McMillen or the ACLU. When asked by The Associated Press if McMillen's demand led to the cancellation, school board attorney Michele Floyd said she could only reference the statement.

"It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors," district officials said in the statement. "However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students."

Kristy Bennett, legal director for the ACLU of Mississippi, said the district was trying to avoid the issue.

"But that doesn't take away their legal obligations to treat all the students fairly," Bennett said. "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 about 23,000 people in north Mississippi near the Alabama state line. It borders Pontotoc County, Miss., where more than a decade ago school officials were sued in federal court over their practice of student-led intercom prayer and Bible classes.

Anna Watson, a 17-year-old junior at the high school, was looking forward to the prom, especially since the town's only hotspot is the bowling alley, she said.

"I am a little bummed out about it. I guess it's a decision that had to be made. Either way someone was going to get disappointed — either Constance was or we were," Watson said. "I don't agree with homosexuality, but I can't change what another person thinks or does."

Other students are on McMillen's side.

McKenzie Chaney, 16, said she wasn't planning to attend the prom, but "it's kind of ridiculous that they can't let her wear the tuxedo and it all be over with."

A Feb. 5 memo to students laid out the criteria for bringing a date to the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the opposite sex.

The ACLU said McMillen approached school officials shortly before the memo went out because she knew same-sex dates had been banned in the past. The ACLU said district officials told McMillen she and her girlfriend wouldn't be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo, and that she and her girlfriend might be asked to leave if their presence made any other students "uncomfortable."

McMillen said she feared she would be thrown out of the prom because "we do live in the Bible Belt."

Link

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Some schools all throughout the country have a strict dress code when it comes to school functions/dances/proms. I can see the female wearing a Tuxedo thing being an issue.

As far as "same-sex" dates, I think the policy is ridiculous. I mean what if it's just two best friends of the same sex going together and having a good time as well? Is that banned?

There's no harm of two people dancing together at the damn prom. It's not like people are there on the dance floor making out/doing other things. It's just a social function/dance.

Some people need to lighten the hell up when it comes to things like this.

It does no harm to anyone, and they've created a mountain out of a mole hill by cancelling the dance rather than letting two people of the same-sex come to the stupid function together.

[Danno 1,228]

Some schools all throughout the country have a strict dress code when it comes to school functions/dances/proms. I can see the female wearing a Tuxedo thing being an issue.

As far as "same-sex" dates, I think the policy is ridiculous. I mean what if it's just two best friends of the same sex going together and having a good time as well? Is that banned?

There's no harm of two people dancing together at the damn prom. It's not like people are there on the dance floor making out/doing other things. It's just a social function/dance.

Some people need to lighten the hell up when it comes to things like this.

It does no harm to anyone, and they've created a mountain out of a mole hill by cancelling the dance rather than letting two people of the same-sex come to the stupid function together.

Actually, they have averted the Mountain by tossing it into the private sector.

The simple facts are we are growing ever more diverse and that predictably means conflict. THe end result will be in ten years this area will follow the trend of so many parts of the country which is to have several proms, privately held and reflecting each group who holds them.

*Schools are not for the purpose of establishing "rights".... if this were true you could wear a tee-shirt expressing anything you wanted.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Some schools all throughout the country have a strict dress code when it comes to school functions/dances/proms. I can see the female wearing a Tuxedo thing being an issue.

As far as "same-sex" dates, I think the policy is ridiculous. I mean what if it's just two best friends of the same sex going together and having a good time as well? Is that banned?

There's no harm of two people dancing together at the damn prom. It's not like people are there on the dance floor making out/doing other things. It's just a social function/dance.

Some people need to lighten the hell up when it comes to things like this.

It does no harm to anyone, and they've created a mountain out of a mole hill by cancelling the dance rather than letting two people of the same-sex come to the stupid function together.

You would be surprised!!!!!

[Danno 1,228]

QUOTE (Paul and Vanessa @ Mar 11 2010, 10:39 AM)

Some schools all throughout the country have a strict dress code when it comes to school functions/dances/proms. I can see the female wearing a Tuxedo thing being an issue.

As far as "same-sex" dates, I think the policy is ridiculous. I mean what if it's just two best friends of the same sex going together and having a good time as well? Is that banned?

There's no harm of two people dancing together at the damn prom. It's not like people are there on the dance floor making out/doing other things. It's just a social function/dance.

Some people need to lighten the hell up when it comes to things like this.

It does no harm to anyone, and they've created a mountain out of a mole hill by cancelling the dance rather than letting two people of the same-sex come to the stupid function together.

You would be surprised!!!!!

and what I am surprised at is, the same people who feel so strongly that a universal prayer cannot be said at a football game for fear of "offending" someone will see nothing wrong with forcing many couples to share a table and evening with two guys or two girls ... dressed and acting like a male/female couple.

I think it's fair to suppose a lot less people would be offended at a generic prayer than this event could lead too.

It's unfortunate but the school was forced to make this call, why with the free legal resources this lesbian couple can muster from the ACLU, Glad, $PLC and any other similar groups would cost the school (and tax payers) a fortune in legal fees.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

and what I am surprised at is, the same people who feel so strongly that a universal prayer cannot be said at a football game for fear of "offending" someone will see nothing wrong with forcing many couples to share a table and evening with two guys or two girls ... dressed and acting like a male/female couple.

I think it's fair to suppose a lot less people would be offended at a generic prayer than this event could lead too.

It's unfortunate but the school was forced to make this call, why with the free legal resources this lesbian couple can muster from the ACLU, Glad, $PLC and any other similar groups would cost the school (and tax payers) a fortune in legal fees.

A prayer/religious action is a lot different than 2 people enjoying one another's company....

[Danno 1,228]

A prayer/religious action is a lot different than 2 people enjoying one another's company....

We do agree that they are different.

BUt then again, nearly everything is.

[Nagishkaw 510]

0h no! Not another ghey thread. I blame Nina.

[M.O 6]

hmm

[Ladylethal 12]

I didn't know it was forbidden for girls to wear pant suits at proms ...

[2xHollyx2 3]

This is absolutely ridiculous!

Some schools all throughout the country have a strict dress code when it comes to school functions/dances/proms. I can see the female wearing a Tuxedo thing being an issue.

dress code: she wanted to wear a tuxedo ... so where is the problem?

[thongd4me 69]

That's to be expected in the Bible Belt,

but the opinions of the broader public

in that locality have some catching up

to do.

If you asked the average person

there, he or she would probably disagree.

The ACLU would have probably won the

case which is why they cancelled the prom,

to take the issue off the table. Once they

have seen the result (no prom for anyone),

only then are opinions likely to change.

For me it would be a non-issue, just let

everyone have their fun.

[Jenn! 918]

I don't blame the school for cancelling. Now there's no discrimination, none of the students get to go. It's really the fault of all the parents who would have been up in arms, offended by the school's allowing the gay couple to attend. I don't particularly care for public prayer, but I just sit silently and get on with things. Uptight, litigious people of both extremes cause these sorts of problems.

[thongd4me 69]

Some schools all throughout the country have a strict dress code when it comes to school functions/dances/proms. I can see the female wearing a Tuxedo thing being an issue....

There have also been cases where a guy had wanted to wear a dress to school.

I think that if the person involved can stand up to the ridicule, that should be the test.

He/she will decide soon enough if it's still in the "comfort zone."

I don't like dress codes as a rule if they are enacted to enforce conformity.

Administrators & parents forget that "peer pressure" is sometimes more effective

regarding the "square peg."

If someone has their hair dyed green and red and they have this every day at school,

fellow students will probably ignore that after the first day but it will be harder for

the student to change back. Being ridiculed or ignored works wonders. If the student

enjoys being ridiculed or ignored, well that's not anyone else's problem. If it doesn't

interfere with schoolwork, then not an issue.

Should the tango be banned at school proms because it mimics "simulated sex?"

[luckytxn 2,265]

Now she is suing the school to force them to have the prom.