ACLU Sues School to Reinstate Prom

[kpete]

Source: Advocate

ACLU Sues School to Reinstate Prom
By Michelle Garcia
Constance McMillen x390 (fair) | advocate.com

The American Civil Liberties Union will sue a Mississippi high school after it canceled its prom this year rather than let a lesbian student bring her girlfriend as a date.

The suit in the U.S. district court for northern Mississippi calls for Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton to reinstate the prom on April 2.

“All I wanted was the same chance to enjoy my prom night like any other student," Constance McMillen, the 18-year-old senior, said in a statement on Thursday. "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 right of all the students at my school to have our prom.”

McMillen was told that she could not attend the prom with her girlfriend, who is also a student at the school. Then on Wednesday, the school district announced that it was canceling its prom after receiving a letter from the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition.

Read more: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/11/ACLU_Sues_School_to_Reinstate_Prom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AdvocatecomDailyNews+%28Advocate.com+Daily+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

[Fumesucker]

1. The more things change the more they stay the same..

This whole battle was fought in the very same manner over race decades ago and in the same damn places.

[Christa]

2. I really hope they succeed.

This whole situation is beyond ridicule even.

Would they have preferred the DADT method? Would they have preferred her to lie about her sexual preferences?

[AlbertCat]

8. Would they have preferred her to lie about her sexual preferences?

Obviously, yes.

Can't have any happy gays out there. They must all be hounded by "problems" .... because Lord knows Hetero couples have no problems whatsoever!

[SteppingRazor]

3. The school's probably within their rights to cancel the prom entirely. That said...

have you heard about the hotel owner in New Orleans who has offered to host the school's prom for free?

http://www.wdsu.com/news/22820091/detail.html


So, it could actually work out even better for the kids. Why have a prom in Tupelo, Miss., when you could party in the Big Easy?

[onehandle]

5. Go Footloose on their asses. nt

[apnu]

7. They may be in their rights but they look like damn fools. I'm reminded of that country club...

... that banned the African American kids from the pool. Basically its the same thing, IMO.

[SteppingRazor]

9. Well, not quite. It'd be the same thing if the pool had shut down entirely rather than allow ...

black kids to swim there.

The high school in question would, I think, not be within its rights to deny gay students the ability to go to the prom. But they can shut down the prom completely, thus treating all students equally (read: equally bad). I completely agree it makes them look hopelessly out of touch. I mean, it's just totally backwards, especially in this day and age, but I don't think it can be argued against in court, vis-a-vis the civil rights of the students.

[No Elephants]

4. I'll say it again: Please donate to the ACLU. They are one of the few groups that

look ouy for our civil rights.

http://www.aclu.org/news-commentary

[Iowa]

12. +1

[activa8tr]

6. Another great link on this story with video and sympathetic viewers

talking about it.

Even a "Christian" who holds no ill will toward the couple.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/11/mississippi.prom.suit/index.html

[hayu_lol]

10. Might be the best prom ever at this small rural high school...

maybe the safest as well, if the kids accept the offer of a NO businessman to host their prom(help with the prom)in NO. Even buses to transport the kids(safer than having the kids drive themselves)to and from the event.

Lots of material on google for this high school right now.

Bouquet of 'SOUR GRAPES' for the school board, school officials, and disgruntled citizens who forced this issue in the first place.

[Vidar]

11. Good for the ACLU.

[Dappleganger]

13. Where are the parents protesting for these girls?

Yeah, I thought so.