Two Day Magazine

I don’t know how many of you have been following this story, but I think it is very interesting and telling of the mentality of some in this country. Quick recap:

Constance McMillen, an 18 year old girl from Mississippi high school (Itawamba Agricultural High School) wanted to bring her girlfriend (yes, they are lesbians) to the prom. She came out in 8th grade and wanted to wear a tux to the event. She asked school officials and they said NO, you can’t bring your girlfriend. It has turned into a major shit storm! Well, obviously this really upset the kids at the school and they have been threatening and mean to her since the incident.

Not only was she not allowed to bring a girl to the prom, the school said she couldn’t wear a tux. What is this, 1954? Well, the ACLU got involved when Constance (who, by the way is really brave for being so open) took up her case and then the school canceled the prom. Well, obviously this really upset the kids at the school and they have been threatening and mean to her since the incident. McMillen states:

“There were so many dirty looks. A lot of people didn’t like me very much.”

The Superintendent, Teresa McNeece testified at the court hearing that they were concerned about alcohol and drug use, so they weren’t even sure they were going to have the event. Yeah, right! She also said McMillen has caused major disruptions, saying:

“We were being hounded every day. Our students were being houdned. We are having a tough time of any bell-to-bell instruction.” Well, gee, then maybe you shouldn’t have denied her the right to attend the prom with her girlfriend! This is not a big deal! The school created this mess, not her! When they cross examined McNeece, she couldn’t give any examples of what disruptions had occurred.

Well, yesterday US District Judge Glen H. Davidson refused ACLU’s request that they have to hold a prom, but the judge did rule in favor of McMillen in saying that by canceling the prom, the school violated her first Amendment right to express herself. There is a trial planned about this issue.

Since this incident, there has been an outpouring of love for McMillen from the gay community. Perez Hilton invited her to LA to attend a gala with him, Ellen DeGeneres has had her on her show to talk abou this incident and Wanda Sykes has also extended out her love and support.

McMillen says: “All I wanted was 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 rights of all the students at my school to have our prom.”

Now the parents are organizing a “private” prom that will be open to all the students, and the judge agreed that this would suffice. McMillen told Yahoo News that she may or may not attend, considering she may just quit school over all of this because of the hostile environment the other kids are creating.

There are rumors, though, that McMillen may not be able to attend this private prom, anyway, because the parents don’t want her to.  

This girl is strong, brave, amazing! It takes a lot of courage to stand up for your rights, to stand up for equality. She is being harassed by kids at school, harassed by the administration, and forced to become a public figure for gay rights, whether she intended to or not.

Bottom line, if the school had just allowed her to go, this incident never would have happened. But, people are ignorant and bigoted and think that they know best. Doesn’t make the state of Mississippi look very open-minded! Maybe this will give other kids courage in other states to stand up and say: “Hey, I am part of this school, too! I deserve a prom!” I know at my old high school, we wouldn’t have been allowed to have same-sex dates. And that was bullshit seven years ago, and it’s bull shit now.