Lesbian teen back at Miss. school after prom flap

[Kadie]

Lesbian teen back at Miss. school after prom flap

By SHELIA BYRD, Associated Press Writer Shelia Byrd, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago

JACKSON, Miss. – An 18-year-old Mississippi lesbian student whose school district canceled her senior prom rather than allow her to escort her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo said she got some unfriendly looks from classmates when she reluctantly returned to campus Thursday.

Constance McMillen said she didn't want to go back the day after the Itawamba County school board's decision, but her father told her she needed to face her classmates, teachers and school officials.

"My daddy told me that I needed to show them that I'm still proud of who I am," McMillen told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "The fact that this will help people later on, that's what's helping me to go on."

The district announced Wednesday it wouldn't host the April 2 prom. The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union told officials a policy banning same-sex prom dates violated students' rights. The ACLU said the district not letting McMillen wear a tuxedo violated her free expression rights.

McMillen said she felt some hostility toward her on the Itawamba County Agricultural High School campus.

"Somebody said, 'Thanks for ruining my senior year.'" McMillen said.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_re_us/us_lesbian_prom_date

[Bluebear]

1. '"Somebody said, 'Thanks for ruining my senior year.'" McMillen said.'

Me, me, me, me. Me.

[Shell Beau]

15. Teens tend to be a little selfish.

[LakeSamish706]

2. Funny, I thought the students would have been pissed at the school for going this far.

I would not think that her fellow classmates would have a problem with her bringing her same sex prom date.

[druidity33]

8. heh, heh... good one.

you've never been to Mississippi have you?

:)

[LakeSamish706]

9. Oh, your right I haven't... My bad! n/t

[Shell Beau]

12. I think it is more the parents than the students.

And I live in Mississippi.

[jody]

14. I've worked in MS, TX, CA, OH, IL, D.C., GA, AL, WY, CO. IMO unfortunately some in those

states would have blamed her.

Someday we will let people live their own lives, won't we?

[druidity33]

23. i sure hope so.

I've been to many states as well and know that good people can be found anywhere. There's just a lower proportion of them in some places. Here in Massachusetts, you can hear the minds closing as you get further into the countryside...

:shrug:

[dalaigh lllama]

3. The school board sounds like petty a$$holes

So they cancelled the entire prom rather than let her attend. Looks like they WANT her to get ostracized by her classmates.

[Hepburn]

4. It's the SCHOOL BOARD that ruined the Prom...

...sheesh...

[Echo In Light]

5. Good for her...but a tough situation for her to be in

[Libertas1776]

6. Honestly, i can't say i'm surprised about the student's reactions...

it is some podunk little town in Mississippi after all. I thank my lucky stars i went to a thousand student high school up here in "godless" NY.

[Shell Beau]

13. Have you been to that little podunk town?

I have. I grew up in what you would call a podunk town I guess with 40 people in my class. Funny thing is most students are the same no matter where you go. I am guessing your school had some of the same issues as mine.

[U4ikLefty]

16. You've GOT to be kidding. This equivalency crap is getting tired.

There are issues of diversity that are unique to homogeneous places with small populations.

[Shell Beau]

17. I am NOT kidding. These issues happen all over in small towns.

Not just in the south. People like to bash places they have never been.

[U4ikLefty]

18. I've lived in the south & said nothing about the south...try again.

My assertion is that these small towns have uniquely different "challenges" in diversity. They tend to fight change....this applies to the all regions of the U.S.

I think we may be in agreement on this issue if your only objection was about small towns in the south vs everywhere else. I know (from experience) that there are some small towns in California and New York with as much xenophobia as anywhere in the south.

[Dappleganger]

20. Well you know what, schools everywhere fight change.

As do people everywhere--humans have a strong tendency to get stuck into a rut then dig their feet in no matter where they live.

[Shell Beau]

21. I didn't say you did. As a matter of fact, my first post you responded to

was not aimed at you. I just get tired of the south bashing when crazy backwards stuff happens all over this country. I mean look at some of the stuff going on in Utah right now. But I am not saying you are bashing the south. It is the thinly veiled comments here that get under my skin. I am not sure why I let it.

[kestrel91316]

7. IMHO the school did this knowing full well that teens will be teens and any ire

over the cancelled prom will fall on her and NOT THE SCHOOL. She needs a bodyguard. They are trying to get her killed.

[progressoid]

10. Hang in there Constance. Don't let those adolescents get you down.

And I don't mean just some of your fellow idiotic students.

[Shell Beau]

11. I saw her interviewed on the local news just a bit ago.

I am happy that she has a family that supports her and tells her to be proud of who she is. She made reference to other gay people at her school, and said the school needs to recognize such. I agree 100%. Most of the people they aired that called in agreed as well.

[Dappleganger]

19. As a parent I don't relish the idea of making my kid's civil rights a damn social experiment...

but on the other hand, she is 18 and definitely old enough to decide what she wants to do, too. Giant kudos to both girls and Constance's father.

[Generic Other]

22. The adults should be ashamed

This young woman did not ruin anyone's senior year. Anymore than Rosa Parks ruined anyone's bus ride!

I hope this poor girl has some support in her community. It sounds like a lonely struggle for her otherwise.

Some things never change. Maybe they should send Federal troops to accompany her to prom night. Gees Louise!!