Jackson, Mississippi (The Weekly Vice) - Constance McMillen, a lesbian 18-year-old high school senior is asking a federal judge to force her Mississippi school district to reinstate a prom dance it cancelled after she asked to attend the prom with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.
According to reports, the decision to cancel the prom came after the American Civil Liberties Union demanded that officials change a policy banning same-sex prom dates because it violated students' rights.
The ACLU said the district not letting McMillen wear a tuxedo violated her free expression rights.
Instead, the school board said it wouldn't host the event, "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events" but never mentioned McMillen, her girlfriend or the ACLU. The schools' policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex.
Prior to the incident, a memo to students was sent out setting the rules for bringing a date to the prom, and one of those rules was the person must be of the opposite sex.
The ACLU said McMillen spoke to school officials before the memo was distributed because she knew same-sex dates had been prohibited in the past. The ACLU said district officials told McMillen she and her girlfriend wouldn't be allowed to arrive together, 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."
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court to force the school district to sponsor the prom. It also asks that McMillen be allowed to escort her girlfriend, and wear her tuxedo.
Haley Mattson
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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12 comments:
it's stupid that most school districts don't do a good enough backround (police record,mental health,prior work exp.) check on their teachers but yet they'll cancel a prom over this. i hope that they end up reinstating this prom and have to change their rules because of this.
The school's have too much other stuff to worry about than a prom.
I just read this on perez hilton's site and he invited her to his concert comming up with all kinds of big acts. along with her date. I think thats so awesome
I agree with the school system.
the school is making this chick into a pariah cuz out of their own paranoia and ignorance. it seems she was "open" and everybody knew about it. oh well, cant get too surprised by this....
When I was in High School I went to all but two dances with my best friend. We also wore fun outfits. Never heard a word. I'm not a lesbian, but who was to know? It seems to me that the school could focus a little more on bullies, weapons, and drugs. This girl deserves her prom, after all she is one of the few who isn't pregnant, or a drop out. Give 'em a break.
Carpdiem, thats a good point. If two girls showed up together at a prom, who's to say they weren't there as friends as opposed to lovers. Girls do everything else pretty much in pairs.
"Anonymous said...
I agree with the school system."
Yeah, if i agreed with something this stupid and bigoted i'd stay anonymous too!
I'm sorry but I've got to ask...
Is her date the gym teacher?
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Have you forgotten what can happen when a woman at a prom gets pissed?
CLICK HERE!
You don’t think she wanted a media frenzy do ya? I wonder who called the ALCU? Some people live to stir controversy… I think ol’ Constance is looking to become famous more than anything.
Update: One of the big New Orleans hoteliers made the offer to bus the entire graduating class to New Orleans and he would foot the bill for their prom! Is that class or what?
@mrbowtie
No me na think, you fascism pimp. I called the ACLU, ya have a problem wid da? What did ya want her to do? Take y'alls conservative BS?
I think you are the the one who would just like to be famous. So sad. From your posts there is ample evidence you are a closet homosexual, like the last Repuplican to get out of the Republican dungeon. So sad.
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