Miss. prom canceled after lesbian's date request

[Wirraway]

Really? And exactly how do you know her?

ok, how about this: she wanted to Strike A Blow for individual liberty.

 

[Maren]

ok, how about this: she wanted to Strike A Blow for individual liberty.

I'm not looking for a particular answer, I'm just curious what you based the statement on. While I don't know her at all, my impression hasn't been that she just wanted the attention. Her classmates already knew she was gay, so going to prom in a tux with here girlfriend wasn't going to shock people. And while she has now gotten lots of attention, it appears to me that she merely wanted to handle it quietly and only resorted to legal action when the school board canceled the prom after having a letter sent to the school district informing them they were violating the law.

More to the point, there are comments attributed to her, when people were ridiculing some of her classmates that were joyfully celebrating her not going to the real prom and instead going to the fake prom, where she told people not to bother her classmates or call them names. Instead, she said that many of her classmates are great people and that all her classmates should be treated with respect. That isn't the type of comment you typically find from people just searching for attention.

To follow up on BigBadWlf's comment, here is information on the Second Chance Prom (with a review of the story so far). She also attended and presented an award to Wanda Sykes at the GLAAD awards last night and received a standing ovation when she came on stage to present the award.

Maren(who is happy for her)

 

[Billnew]

I thought since there were new posts, that maybe the court case had an update.

I am glad this girl is getting her 15 minutes, and I believe this will chip away at those ignorant people(like I was) and let them see, that this will not destroy society, it will not turn God against our nation.
Accepting is not endorsing.

I hope the bigotted schools have independant funded school dances for 2 reasons:
1.save the school the money of having the dance.
2.that this be a gauge to our whole society, as to how much we have improved, and how much we need to improve. This school has the kids brainwashed so badly, they kept this dance a secret, and anyone that went to the dance, went to the private dance. When kids decide to join with the outcast and stand against the injustice, then the private dance will be for outcasts.

Even if you believe God is against homosexuality, I believe he said love thy neighbor.
If you only love those that love you, what have you gained.
Condemn the sin, love the sinner. Before you pick up your stone, think of the sins people could stone you for. No sin is worse then another, sin =death except for grace. Forgive those around us, as God has forgiven us.

 

[keith99]

Actually, I think you are reading something into the story that isn't there. Both proms were private proms, the school did not sponsor either one (and they may have provided chaperones for both proms -- if the did I suspect that would be actionable). And while I will admit the story can appear confusing, this Jackson, MS station confirms it was a private prom, "Constance McMillen said she was one of only seven students to show up at a private event chaperoned by school officials last Friday night." The school did not have a prom.

While what you say is true it seems to be far from the whole story.

Tghe school had scheduled a school sponsored prom. When Constance wahtend to bring a female date and wear a tux the school cancelled this prom. She took this to court and the judge decided in her favor but did not decide on requiring performance on the part of the school. It seems at least in part this was because the judge was informed there was a private prom planned where everyone would be welcome. A lot depends on just who informed the judge, the kind of detail that is saddly lacking. Depending on who informed the judge and just what the links were between the 2 'proms' that occured there may be actionable items.

 

[Maren]

While what you say is true it seems to be far from the whole story.

Tghe school had scheduled a school sponsored prom. When Constance wahtend to bring a female date and wear a tux the school cancelled this prom. She took this to court and the judge decided in her favor but did not decide on requiring performance on the part of the school. It seems at least in part this was because the judge was informed there was a private prom planned where everyone would be welcome. A lot depends on just who informed the judge, the kind of detail that is saddly lacking. Depending on who informed the judge and just what the links were between the 2 'proms' that occured there may be actionable items.

Yes, I'm curious who knew what and when. I know one article I looked at last night, while looking for information on the Second Chance Prom, stated that the school was involved in keeping Constance away from the real private prom -- if true I could see that as being very bad for the school and possibly some of the parents -- if they were ones that told the judge they were planning a prom for everyone (which someone did tell the judge).

It will also be interesting to see what Constance does. When the judge refused to reinstate the school prom (on the basis of the private prom already having been set up) he instead allowed Constance to ask for monetary damages -- something Constance had not asked for in the original suit, she merely was looking to be able to attend her school's prom. Though I've not heard anything about her petitioning the court for a monetary award, I have to wonder with some of what has happened if she might change her mind. To me it would seem appropriate, if she won a monetary judgment, to donate it to some of the non-profit groups that have aided/supported her.

 

[Billnew]

Yes, I'm curious who knew what and when. I know one article I looked at last night, while looking for information on the Second Chance Prom, stated that the school was involved in keeping Constance away from the real private prom -- if true I could see that as being very bad for the school and possibly some of the parents -- if they were ones that told the judge they were planning a prom for everyone (which someone did tell the judge).

It will also be interesting to see what Constance does. When the judge refused to reinstate the school prom (on the basis of the private prom already having been set up) he instead allowed Constance to ask for monetary damages -- something Constance had not asked for in the original suit, she merely was looking to be able to attend her school's prom. Though I've not heard anything about her petitioning the court for a monetary award, I have to wonder with some of what has happened if she might change her mind. To me it would seem appropriate, if she won a monetary judgment, to donate it to some of the non-profit groups that have aided/supported her.

If the school was not part of the second prom, they pretty much have clean hands. The town bares the blame.
If the school took part in both, then I would say they have some "splaining to do." Because that makes them a part of going against the judges ruling. (contempt?)
Public school means open to all. If the private dance was not stated it to be "open"to all", then the judge would have ruled differently. If he had known there was two private school dances, one for outcasts/ the other for "normal" students I
am betting his ruling would have been different.

The smart community would have let the school have clean hands to prevent further action, but those that descriminate are not known for being smart.

 

[lawtonfogle]

she got her 15 minutes of fame. that's all she wanted.

I have a feeling she would have rather not had this whole thing happen.

 

[Maren]

If the school was not part of the second prom, they pretty much have clean hands. The town bares the blame.
If the school took part in both, then I would say they have some "splaining to do." Because that makes them a part of going against the judges ruling. (contempt?)
Public school means open to all. If the private dance was not stated it to be "open"to all", then the judge would have ruled differently. If he had known there was two private school dances, one for outcasts/ the other for "normal" students I
am betting his ruling would have been different.

The smart community would have let the school have clean hands to prevent further action, but those that descriminate are not known for being smart.

As I stated, I was commenting on a statement from an article I read that claimed the school not only had knowledge but was complicit in sending Constance to the fake prom. I'd be interested to know the facts but it does seem, from what I have read, that the school sent chaperones to both private proms meaning they at least had knowledge of the dual proms.

Maren(who thinks someone will be in hot water with the judge)

 

[HELENz]

I have a feeling she would have rather not had this whole thing happen.

I second that. She seemed rather quiet and shy on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"!