Itawamba County Schools in Mississippi have a policy which states that all prom dates must be of the opposite sex. Constance McMillan a Lesbian Senior is now challenging that. McMillan wanted to bring her girlfriend to the prom, instead of denying the request Itawamba County Schools simply cancelled the prom. As you might imagine, the ACLU has filed suit on behalf of Constance McMillan.
The ACLU had given the school system until Wednesday to reinstate the prom, they’ve refused and the lawsuit goes on. Constance McMillan chose to fight against the ban on same sex dates at the prom; who knew the school board wouldn’t have the stomach to fight the fight. Amazingly they simply cancelled the prom, disappointing not only Constance McMillan but every other student who was slated to go.
In this day and time the school board in Itawamba County Mississippi had to realize they weren’t going to get away with a draconian policy stating what type of date a person could bring to the prom. Whatever your morals and standards you must be realistic. Had the school system simply allowed Constance McMillan’s Lesbian date to attend with her they would have avoided a mountain of legal trouble that they are now embroiled in; not to mention the bad press.
The school board indicated that they chose to cancel the prom because of the “distraction” that the Constance McMillan situation was becoming. They stated that they were taking into account the education, safety, and well being of all the students. Constance McMillan disagrees:
“All I want is the same chance to enjoy my prom night like any other student. But my school would rather hurt all the students than treat everyone fairly,” “This isn’t just about me and my rights anymore — now I’m fighting for the opportunity of all the students at my school to have our prom.”
You just know that the Constance McMillan Lesbian High School prom problem has school boards all over the country searching their policies with a fine tooth comb, probably making changes where necessary. Nobody, especially a school board wants to find themselves in the crosshairs of the ACLU over an issue like this. This is a fight the school board will not win.
March 11th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
that is just plain silly.
most men cannot dance anyway,
so why deny lesbians?
March 11th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Good for you Constance. Always be true to yourself.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
What a pathetic response from the school board. Instead of admitting we have a problematic policy, let’s just cancel the whole thing altogether.
(Of course, to me the words “canceled prom” would have been more exciting than “snow day” back in high school.)
March 11th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
“(Of course, to me the words “canceled prom” would have been more exciting than “snow day” back in high school.)” rhayader
gee what a surprise …
and next you will be telling me lindsay lohan has substance abuse problems
March 11th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
most men cannot dance anyway
So true! And women dance together anyway. What’s the big deal?
March 11th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
“(Of course, to me the words “canceled prom” would have been more exciting than “snow day” back in high school.
Not half as exciting a ” furlough fridays ”
jeez, we get three a month here in Hi.
Thats three days each month that we either have to hire baby sitters, day care, loose a day at work… whatever.
Our teachers deserve to be paid well, far and above any politician. But whats up with the unions leading these very important aspects to our society into being treated and lead into being nothing more than thuggish union cash grabbers ?
March 11th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Beth you Cougar,
Why is it that women dance together anyway? It just proves my unscientific theory that all women are teases.
March 11th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
yeah Shannon, very unscientific.
I think women dance together simply because they know they can do it without half as much ridicule as if two men started a Tango.
Sure, from a heathonistic male approach its teasing, exciting subconscious images of me being in the middle.
But its just so much prettier to watch two females, graceful and delicate than two guys awkward, bearded and clumsely trying to well…
Know what I mean ?
March 11th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
So what? That’s their prerrogative!
You do what ever you want to do some where else!
Kudos to the school board!
March 11th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Hey Eli…
You hit it on the nose…
“You do what ever you want to do some where else!’
Take your gay expositions where they are wanted
March 11th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Hey micky…
You see dumb lesbian. First of all I am not gay. Second of all I am defending the school board. You people sicken me!!!!!!!!!!!
March 11th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Maybe I am not as progressive as the rest of the crowd, but this is difficult for me to understand. I am so conflicted with the issue of gay rights. I want equallity for all, but I feel like this is being shoved in my face at every turn, and I find it confusing and annoying at times. It is too bad that the students will be disappointed, can they move the prom to another local? or take a student vote and let the majority rule.
March 11th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
“You see dumb lesbian.”
Married 15 years with no homosexual desires, or tendencies.
How you pulled “lesbian” outchera$$ is left up to you and your friends imagination.
” First of all I am not gay.”
Who said you were ?
” Second of all I am defending the school board.”
So am I.
Im just saying that if what you’re doing bothers everyone so much you might want to take it to a forum where you’re more invited., welcome and accepted.
“You people sicken me!!!!!!!!!!!”
pull your prejudgemental head out of your a$$, stop being so freaking hypersensative and you’d be able to realize that theres people like me who could give sht what you do with your genitals and lifestyle.
I work with alot of GLTBs
Dance your butts off, butr dont b*tch when you come across people who have a hard time watching it.
You are supposedly on the side ot acceptance and tolerance… right ?
Peace baby
March 11th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
@Claire: I would really like to know WHAT exactly is being shoved in your face… The fact that an 18 year old, a child, wants to live the same quality life as straight people in America? The fact that she has made it to the end of high school and then she is essentially told that she is inadequate and unequal? The fact that the school is basically breeding hatred toward her by cancelling prom all together? The fact that she is a strong young woman that will not be told to be silent? If you believe in equality for all, you should do some reading and weigh the situations that LGBT people have to deal with…simply because of the way we were born…then add the pressures and trials of life (in general) onto that. Then maybe you can see why we want to be free of fighting for our basic rights…why we want to just live a happy life… Our time is short enough on this planet…we don’t need the extra BS. Thank you.
March 11th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Claire, yes.
I agree that we are being succombed to “I’m gay, in your face, and you and your family have to accept us at what you see and if you take it any other way you’re a homophobic far right nut”
Nuff of this “I’m gay, I’m a victim BS already.
Just stop cramming your lifestyle down our throats.
I mean really, the bottom line is this.
Certain genitals were meant to work with the others a certain way.
Any deviation from that deserves attention, but not special rights
March 11th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I would really like to know WHAT exactly is being shoved in your face”
Well, two girls dancing with each other at a crowd of at least a hundred will more than likely end up in your face, if not your kids
March 11th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Well be thankful that your straight and “normal” kids don’t have fists and slurs thrown in their faces…like many, many gay students. I understand where you are coming from, but I would like to know the detrimental effects of your children seeing a couple of the same gender dance together? The world will not implode, nor will their lives… Just like my life doesn’t implode when I see straight people dancing together.
I’m asking for honesty here…do you really believe that you childrens lives would be changed by seeing a same sex couple dance?
March 11th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
of course not Cody.
I encourage kids seeing boys dance with boys, girls dancing with girls. Its really harmless in the big picture.
I’ve done alot of clubbing, seen all kinds of acts. But lets ask what impressional minds might be introduced to.
Thats all.
i remember the dances our school held in the 60s. Everyone was too embarrased to dance with anyone. So the girls ended up dancing with each other just so they could dance.
For christ sake they just wanted to dance, thats all.
But today its not a release like it was in my time, its a determination to impose a sexual lifestye that is something we may or may not want our kids to be subjected to.
Its not just the innocent bodily exchange of expressions it used to be
March 11th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Seriously, doesn’t it all depend on how hot she is? Nobody, but nobody wants to watch a butch girl dancing especially on a day that is so memorable to our graduating seniors.
Cody, you are living 20 years ago. Gay people don’t get beat up on campus anymore. This is 2010.
March 11th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Eh, MCCain
You might want think a little more about what is “Hotness”
Theres some seriously hot butches out there.
Sorry to say, but theres been some pretty attractive muff divers that have broken my heart.
lets not be so judgemental over a percived image that could actually get a rise out of you/us
March 12th, 2010 at 12:31 am
“Why is it that women dance together anyway? ”
because most men look like idiots dancing
March 12th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Micky, this “you/us” rise idea is really super creepy. You stick to you and I’ll stick to me, ain’t no us at 2am. And no, there are no seriously hot butches. Hot requires lipstick, geez.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:32 am
All I know is that I just got back from Vegas and everyone was dancing with everyone. Loved it. Why worry about who is dancing with who. The important thing is that you dance. That’s all that matters.
March 12th, 2010 at 6:26 am
gee what a surprise …
Come on now, High School Prom is the most melodramatic, forced, cliched, painful waste of time I can think of. It’s like a root canal without the nitrous.
March 12th, 2010 at 7:30 am
She is also suing for not being able to wear a tux. Good for her. I wore a tux to my Junior prom, and I am straight. I wore it as a symbol for my gay friends and loved ones. I am from a very small town and no one had ever done anything like it before, but no one cancelled prom JUST because of me. I was actually supported for it. My date (who was gay and my best friend) and I wore matching tuxes, and it was fantastic. Our school just asked me if I was going to be wearing “formal wear.”
Does it get much more formal than a tux??