Miss. school prom off after lesbian's date request

[John_Doe]

So was reading this article from yahoo, and god are some of the comments just ridiculous, I mean come on it just two people who wanted to attend a event, and there's like people posting paragraphs about how this is forcing some lifestyle unto the normal American citizen. I went to my prom, and I think there were a gays and lesbians there as well, but I didn't notice them, cause there wasn't no reason to just like with the other 200 students there, I was with friends and that was all the matter, "and also having fun".
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date

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."

What do you guys think? Should gays stay out of events/gatherings like these etc. Why and Why not? I for one don't even see the logic people are using to dictate how gay/lesbians should live/act. I'd thought we'd learn from the racial segregations of the 50s and 60s....quess not. And please no American hate comments...

[_Equal_]

I for one don't even see the logic people are using to dictate how gay/lesbians should live/act.

Hey, as long as the reverse isn't true...I mean, I don't care if she goes to the prom, the school policy is kinda screwy.

As long as nobody preaches to me about anything. I don't wanna hear how much better gays are at anything, or blacks are better at sports, girls are better at math, etc, etc. I don't want gov't or policy interfering with how I live my life.

[Barotix]

It's Unconstitutional.

[Shadow]

And please no American hate comments...

fack amerika



I've no problem with homosexuals going to events and such together, as long as they behave... I definately don't wish to see two gays kissing. Lesbians are a bit different case, I kind of understand them; who wouldn't desire a hot woman? But a guy, ewww. No offence to anyone intented but feel free to take some if you wish.

[_Equal_]

It's Unconstitutional.

Arrr, there be a lot of that in ye pirate nation of America.

[woutR]

[Goseki]

Ignant ppls is ignant.

[_Scarlett_]

I've no problem with homosexuals going to events and such together, as long as they behave... I definately don't wish to see two gays kissing. Lesbians are a bit different case, I kind of understand them; who wouldn't desire a hot woman? But a guy, ewww. No offense to anyone intended but feel free to take some if you wish.

I think that should go for all students, not just things you personally have an aversion towards. I for one, do not want to see two people macking out on each other in public; this is regardless of the gender of the parties engaged in such activity.

Also, you should reword your comment, seeing as it's contradictory with its wording: gay and lesbian are technically the same thing (one's a broad term, the other is a narrow term, but they detail the same thing).

[Jstar1]

wtb gay vs. anti-gay flame war

[Tasdik]

When I see a gay couple together, an overwhelming feeling of disgust rises up in me. If your gay then that's one thing. But I don't want to see you making out or doing anything romantic with a person of the same sex in public. Get a room.

[Jstar1]

the thing about legalizing same-sex marriage is that a lot of gays do really dumb things to try to get their message across. Yes it gets publicity but thats about it, everyone else just ends up hating them.

Like these girls. Planning to dress up in a tuxedo? Like you didn't think that wasn't going to cause a shitstorm? There are more concrete and less juvenile ways of getting your message across to others.

[Shadow]

Also, you should reword your comment, seeing as it's contradictory with its wording: gay and lesbian are technically the same thing (one's a broad term, the other is a narrow term, but they detail the same thing).

To my understanding gays are male homosexuals, while lesbians are female homosexuals. That's how the terms are used here anyway. Technically you bother with technicalities too much.

[Zyphir]

I don't care what they do or where they go, but they shouldn't be kissing in public. It doesn't matter whether they are lesbian or homosexual (even though I don't mind looking two lesbian girls kissing ^^), they shouldn't kiss in public. For the rest, I don't care about them, really. I for myself know few people who are homosexual/lesbian and have no problems with them.

[cpinney]

When I see a gay couple together, an overwhelming feeling of disgust rises up in me. If your gay then that's one thing. But I don't want to see you making out or doing anything romantic with a person of the same sex in public. Get a room.

same rules go for you then.



oh and its Mississippi, no one should really be surprised by this.

[Goseki]

If you can't stand homosexuals making it out public, than you should also ban the same for heterosexual. (I'll admit though, 2 guys do make me squirm a bit, and 2 hot girls = giggidity, but not like I can't just turn my eyes away. Sometimes if I see a heterosexual couple making out excessively I get kinda squirmish.)

If A loves B, let them be together. Who cares if they're the same sex. It's just ignant people that stick to old traditions for the sake of "that's how I was raised."


The school should be punished imo. They're obviously trying to instigate hate (possible hate crimes) against the girl without directly saying, blame her. This is why justice fails sometimes. Laws really should be guidelines. When people pull shit like this where they're technically not involved but are obviously trying to start something, they should be punished.


Many lesbian couples I know of usually have one dominating and one submissive partner. It's not like porn where there's 2 equally hot feminine girls making out and fucking. Hell, usually one dresses more masculine anyways. I live in Florida, and if I recall correctly, it's been around a decade since my Prom, there was one girl who showed up in a tux with her gf. Cute couple. Normal people don't hate, it's those die-hard Christian hypocrites that hate.

Speaking of, if ANYONE goes to Church of any kind, answer me this.
In the Bible, the women at the well is the first example that pops into my head. Was it not Jesus's message that while all the people in the town hated and ostracized her for being a whore, Jesus showed her compassion and love which caused her to be move and follow him. Was it not his message to change those fallen into sinful ways through love and good acts and showing them the virtuous lives of a Christian? When was it ok to change people by pushing them outside of society and withholding rights from them and having hate crimes against them to save their souls? Seems like we've gone from being Christians following the word of Jesus to the same as the rest of the world. If you don't understand/like it, hate it. Something smells fishy (no pun intended).

[_Equal_]

When was it ok to change people by pushing them outside of society and withholding rights from them and having hate crimes against them to save their souls? Seems like we've gone from being Christians following the word of Jesus to the same as the rest of the world. If you don't understand/like it, hate it. Something smells fishy (no pun intended).

a: It's not ok.
b: Some Christians are not Christ-like. Simple as that ^_^

[Goseki]

When was it ok to change people by pushing them outside of society and withholding rights from them and having hate crimes against them to save their souls? Seems like we've gone from being Christians following the word of Jesus to the same as the rest of the world. If you don't understand/like it, hate it. Something smells fishy (no pun intended).

a: It's not ok.
b: Some Christians are not Christ-like. Simple as that ^_^

I'll have to say it's MOST Christians are not Christ-like. If any it's a very small minority. One thing I've notice from being a Christian growing up is how easy it is to hate when you think you have God on your side.

[John_Doe]

Rational speaking I see no difference between a straight couple or a gay couple making out, if your squimish around gays then you must not be as sexually secure as you thought.

[DarkJackal]

I'm surprised this kind of issue even still happens, why is it even happening, cus osmoene has a problem and doesn't want them to be part of the prom? Thats retarded.

I don't wanna see a couple of dudes kissing anymore then the next guy lol, but I wouldn't try to stop them from doin it, or not want them to be somewhere I might be.

[woutR]

the thing about legalizing same-sex marriage is that a lot of gays do really dumb things to try to get their message across. Yes it gets publicity but thats about it, everyone else just ends up hating them.

Like these girls. Planning to dress up in a tuxedo? Like you didn't think that wasn't going to cause a shitstorm? There are more concrete and less juvenile ways of getting your message across to others.

Goddamn Rosa Parks should have given up her seat as well. What the hell was she thinking sending a message like that?

[XemnasXD]

I've no problem with homosexuals going to events and such together, as long as they behavelolwhat... I definately don't wish to see two gays kissing. Lesbians are a bit different case, I kind of understand them; who wouldn't desire a hot woman? But a guy, ewww. No offence to anyone intented funny how people only add that to something they know is offensive but feel free to take some if you wish.

tweedle-dumb

When I see a gay couple together, an overwhelming feeling of disgust rises up in me. If your gay then that's one thing. But I don't want to see you making out or doing anything romantic with a person of the same sex in public. Get a room.

and tweedle-dumber

the double standard isn't cute and the sad thing is no matter how many people point out how hypocritic it is there's a gang of people who are ready to back up that kind of thinking. Its tiring to see such unwarranted ugliness in the world...

inb4 tweedle-dumbest

[/Pi]

Goddamn Rosa Parks should have given up her seat as well. What the hell was she thinking sending a message like that?

Inb4 "How dare you compare Rosa Parks with these lesbians!"

[Ashikiheyun]

And of course it's happening in Mississippi. No, shit like this should not be happening. It is unconstitutional and just wrong in general. But this is what happens when religion controls people's lives. If people would stop being sheep and actually tried to rationally think for a few moments, they would see how ridiculous christianity, and religion in general are. I don't care about homosexual couples, let them love each other and be together, they usually have a better relationship than heterosexuals anyway.

FFS people drive me crazy

[Jstar1]

the thing about legalizing same-sex marriage is that a lot of gays do really dumb things to try to get their message across. Yes it gets publicity but thats about it, everyone else just ends up hating them.

Like these girls. Planning to dress up in a tuxedo? Like you didn't think that wasn't going to cause a shitstorm? There are more concrete and less juvenile ways of getting your message across to others.

Goddamn Rosa Parks should have given up her seat as well. What the hell was she thinking sending a message like that?

its a valid comparison but these girls obviously wanted to make a splash on everyone else. The requirements clearly said "can only ask the opposite sex out" and they blatantly ignored it, and the school nitpicked at that to completely turn the tables on them so that the whole school would be mad at them.

Something like writing a letter to the administration or being less showy-offy during prom (not something as eye catching as a GIRL wearing a MAN'S tuxedo) would have worked out.

[Goseki]

the thing about legalizing same-sex marriage is that a lot of gays do really dumb things to try to get their message across. Yes it gets publicity but thats about it, everyone else just ends up hating them.

Like these girls. Planning to dress up in a tuxedo? Like you didn't think that wasn't going to cause a shitstorm? There are more concrete and less juvenile ways of getting your message across to others.

Goddamn Rosa Parks should have given up her seat as well. What the hell was she thinking sending a message like that?

its a valid comparison but these girls obviously wanted to make a splash on everyone else. The requirements clearly said "can only ask the opposite sex out" and they blatantly ignored it, and the school nitpicked at that to completely turn the tables on them so that the whole school would be mad at them.

Something like writing a letter to the administration or being less showy-offy during prom (not something as eye catching as a GIRL wearing a MAN'S tuxedo) would have worked out.

I think I found tweedle-dumbest with that last post. These girls did not "obviously" want to make a splash on everyone else. The requirements back than also said that blacks had to sit in the back of the bus. Likewise, Rosa also ignored it because she was tired. These girls just want to go to prom the way they are. The school is just being a self-righteous dick and trying to start hate against the girls.

You think a girl wearing a tux is "show-offy" at prom? FYI, there are lesbians who wear men's clothing all the time. They're not trying to show-off their homosexuality, it's just how they're comfortable. It's like if I were to say you wearing a tux is too "show-offy", stop flauting your heterosexualness around. Like I said, one of the lesbian couple in my High School wore a tux with her date and no one gave a shit. We all hung out and had fun because it's PROM.

I think to cancel the prom was not only unfair, but a perfect excuse to start trouble for the girls. The administrators that passed that need to be penalized and even fired for mishandling the situation so immaturely.

[Shadow]

funny how people only add that to something they know can be seen as offensive (but not meant as such)

Fixed it for you. I fail to see what is so funny about that though. Perhaps you're just taking offence for the sake of taking offence.

[Reise]

This is just one of many, many similar cases.

One side says it's activism, I say it's attention grabbing.

Yes there is an injustice, no that does not mean you should strive to ruin everyone else's experience just for your own gains.

Half the reason these issues are so controversial is because those who push for equality choose the absolute worst times to decide to become activists. If you can't go to prom because of some bullshit rule, don't be selfish and make a fit about it a few weeks before the thing, do it beforehand. Now the school looks like shit and all the students are probably pissed off because one person couldn't approach the situation more intelligently.

[Goseki]

This is just one of many, many similar cases.
Sad isn't it?

One side says it's activism, I say it's attention grabbing.
One side says it's attention grabbing, I say they just want to go to prom and be themselves.

Yes there is an injustice, no that does not mean you should strive to ruin everyone else's experience just for your own gains.
How is 1 girl showing up in a tux with her gf ruining everyone else's experience. From what I read she had many supporters as well from the student body. If your prom experience can be that easily ruined by 1 person showing up dressed differently, you have some serious issues you should be taking care of and going to prom should be on the bottom of your list of priorities.

Half the reason these issues are so controversial is because those who push for equality choose the absolute worst times to decide to become activists. If you can't go to prom because of some bullshit rule, don't be selfish and make a fit about it a few weeks before the thing, do it beforehand. Now the school looks like shit and all the students are probably pissed off because one person couldn't approach the situation more intelligently.
Some bullshit rule indeed. This is High School students. Which plan seems more plausible, ask early and risk just being banned from the prom altogether, or do it last minute relying on time pressure to make the administration cave in? High school kids aren't exactly known to be non-procrastinators. They just asked if they could go the way they're most comfortable, doesn't seem that selfish to me. Hell, they even seem considerate. Everyone will be dancing guy with girl, so one of them decides to wear a tux to blend in. Even if she chose to wear a dress and dance with her date, odds are the teachers chaperoning will kick them out the moment they get too close or kiss over the guy and girl humping in the middle of the floor.

[EvGa]

School administration = bigots.

[Reise]

I really hate it when people reply like this.

Sad isn't it?

One side says it's attention grabbing, I say they just want to go to prom and be themselves.

How is 1 girl showing up in a tux with her gf ruining everyone else's experience. From what I read she had many supporters as well from the student body. If your prom experience can be that easily ruined by 1 person showing up dressed differently, you have some serious issues you should be taking care of and going to prom should be on the bottom of your list of priorities.

That may be the case, but when they fail to understand the effect such an action would have, they invite this sort of criticism. Clearly they know that "being themselves" means causing an uproar, yet they decided to be stubborn and disregard everyone else's feelings and wants. Now nobody gets a prom. "Oh but proms aren't a big deal." I'd agree, but that doesn't justify walking on other people's values.

Some bullshit rule indeed. This is High School students. Which plan seems more plausible, ask early and risk just being banned from the prom altogether, or do it last minute relying on time pressure to make the administration cave in? High school kids aren't exactly known to be non-procrastinators. They just asked if they could go the way they're most comfortable, doesn't seem that selfish to me. Hell, they even seem considerate. Everyone will be dancing guy with girl, so one of them decides to wear a tux to blend in. Even if she chose to wear a dress and dance with her date, odds are the teachers chaperoning will kick them out the moment they get too close or kiss over the guy and girl humping in the middle of the floor.

You think they would ban them from the prom for bringing the subject up before the date was set in stone? Did they make an effort to try? I'd say that even if they did get banned from it (which would cause a whole new list of problems, and likely end in the couple's favor) at least everyone else gets to have their prom. What they intended to wear isn't the issue.