Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School, has petitioned her school to allow her to take her girlfriend as her date to prom, and to be be able where a tux. The school board has responded by saying  no and then canceling prom so that they do not have to deal with it. It is not that I would not expect something like this from happening,especially in the conservative South,  but it is sad that it does. Prejudice and fear being acceptable and tolerated keep people from being free.  The ACLU, of course, has filed a lawsuit against the school.

I am proud of Constance and the bravery that she has shown to stand up for what she believes in and to be proud of  who she is. The school board should be very ashamed of their actions.

More Reading

• Canceled Mississippi prom attracts national attention (Clarion Ledger, 12 Mar 2010)
• Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom (Prop 8 Trial Tracker, 13 Mar 2010)
• Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom (Facebook, started by the ACLU)
• Student Nondiscrimination Act of 2010 introduced in US House (Human Rights Campaign, 27 Jan 2010)