How "Rock Lobster" Saved a Gay Student's Prom

[FourScore]

How "Rock Lobster" Saved a Gay Student's Prom
by JR
Mon Mar 15, 2010 at 05:03:23 PM PDT

EXCERPT:

...Aaron Fricke grew up in Cumberland, RI. He went through Cumberland's schools, he participated in Cumberland's community activities, he paid Cumberland's taxes. And, as all of his classmates knew or strongly suspected, Aaron Fricke was gay.

Aaron's school required that every attendee to the school prom bring an "escort." In 1979, Aaron's friend Paul Guilbert had asked if he could bring a male as his prom date, and the principal had denied his request. Paul didn't go to prom.

Aaron could have taken one of his girl friends to the prom. He could have kept his head down and pretended to be something he wasn't. But instead he chose to speak up against discrimination. So in 1980, he followed Paul's example and asked for permission to bring a male as a prom date. Again, the principal said no, saying that he couldn't protect Aaron from physical harm at the hands of other students, and that the community backlash at "a request for overt homosexual interaction at a class function" would hurt other students and the town.

So Aaron sued for the right to take a boy to prom.

He was physically beaten for his actions, needing five stitches on his face afterwards. The assailant was suspended for nine days. Aaron had to be walked through the halls by administrators for his protection.

When the case reached the US District Court, Chief Judge Pettine recognized the weakness of the school's case for preventing Aaron from bringing a date. He ordered that Aaron be allowed to attend with whomever he wanted to bring, saying that this was a matter of Aaron's First Amendment rights.

On a class trip to New York shortly after the order, Aaron met up with an old friend. Paul Guilbert had moved to the Village after graduation, and he and Aaron spent the evening reconnecting with each other.

And while Paul hadn't been able to bring a male date to prom the year before, he got a chance to go in 1980, as Aaron's date...

READ MORE AT: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/15/846527/-How-Rock-Lobster-Saved-a-Gay-Students-Prom

[marmar]

1. No link?

No mention of "Rock Lobster"


.....but it wasn't a rock....it was a ROCK LOBSTER !!!!

[FourScore]

2. Sorry. I lost an hour of sleep this week. Haven't been the same since.

SHE CAME FROM PLANET CLAIRE...

[MindandSoul]

3. That's a great story! I hope that in every school this year there will be at least

one gay student demanding to bring his/her gay date to the prom!

Make it a huge statement that no one can ignore!

[FourScore]

4. What a great idea!

Statistically there would have to be at least one gay person in each class. Probably more than one!

[daleanime]

5. "Why won't you dance with me..."

:bounce:

[Ratty]

6. Wow, I read this book years ago as I was coming out

Amazing the bravery this required in 1980.