ACLU demands Miss. high school allow lesbian at prom - will have to leave if others 'uncomfortable'

[WillParkinson]

ACLU demands Miss. high school allow lesbian at prom
By Ruth Schneider, 365gay.com
03.05.2010 9:00am EST

Constance McMillen, a Mississippi high school, wants to go to prom. But school district officials seem to be making that dream a little difficult.

Itawamba County School District officials told McMillan she may not arrive at prom with her girlfriend, that she may not wear a tuxedo, and that should other students become “uncomfortable” with her and her girlfriend’s presence, she will be asked to leave.

On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union and Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition teamed up to demand McMillen be allowed to attend prom.

“Prom is one of those high school moments everyone should get to experience and enjoy. I didn’t go to prom last year, so this is my only chance to go,” McMillen said, according to an ACLU statement.

“Prom is supposed to be about all students being able to express themselves, have fun, and make memories that will last the rest of their lives,” said Kristy Bennett, Legal Director of the ACLU of Mississippi, according to the same statement. “Constance has a constitutional right to take the person she’s dating to the prom, just like any other student at any other public school.”

http://www.365gay.com/news/aclu-demands-miss-high-school-allow-lesbian-at-prom/

[Warpy]

1. Uptight Christian Puritans always made me uncomfortable

and I doubt I'm alone in that. Nobody would ever think of expelling them.

Pity.

[Journeyman]

2. At my daughter's prom, a number of straight girls attended with their girlfriends. . .

they couldn't get dates and didn't want to miss the experience. Would they be denied under a policy such as Itawamba proposes?

My daughter attended with a good friend of hers, an open gay young man. Both wanted to go but neither had a date, so they went together to experience the event. Would they be rejected at Itawamba's door, given that the young man made no secret of his orientation?

Too many people making too much of too little. Too many too's. Sometimes I think that's the main problem in this particular realm of human interaction. Our emphasis should be on connectivity, and sharing, but too many seek to deny all twos from being one. Too many too's.

[paulsby]

3. the ACLU is on the side of justice

here.

sorry, nobody has the "right not to feel uncomfortable"

this applies to lesbianism, gun rights, hate speech, etc.

[grasswire]

4. hard to believe this insanity...

...cuz I live in a liberal city where the teenage girls consider it advantageous to be lesbian -- a status symbol. Most of the girls at the dances are with other girls.