Mississippi school prom off after lesbian's date request

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by apretty

love this!

will you let us know if she responds? i'd love to be a part of sponsoring the couple! <3

You bet! I am watching her friends #s climb on facebook and hope that she will get back with me pretty soon. She might be kinda swamped with her new-found queer "fame".

This particular area and even this particular school is known for its backwards, ignorant, asshattish policies on race, sexual tolerance, etc. I feel sorry for any person attending school there.

I just left a message with the school board and am emailing all of the district heads individually to express my disappointment and outrage. I am also sending letters to the school board, local paper, and emailing the news stations.

It's time to act up, folks.

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by EzeeTiger

Last year I watched a documentary on HBO about Prom Night in Mississippi. This school had always had two proms, one for blacks and one for whites.
http://festival.sundance.org/2009/fi...in_mississippi

YES! I remember this being in the paper for a while there and also saw the documentary.

There is also a good documentary on one of (if not the only) the gay clubs there. The area is SUPER repressed.

[evolveme]

As recently as Spring 2008, at least one Mississippi town still hosted racially segregated proms. Actor Morgan Freeman helped ensure his hometown's first integrated prom (by paying for it) and a documentary was made. Many students still refused to attend. So, I am hardly surprised that an entire event would be shut down because of a queer young woman's desire to attend her prom in my home state.

Here's the story on Charleston, Mississippi's first integrated prom.

[Apocalipstic]

It makes me nauseated how close minded people can be. I talk about how the South is great to live in....Yeah, Nashville where most people are from California, Michigan or New York.

ugh ugh ugh

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I just sent Constance a message on Facebook inviting her to our "Big Gay Prom" at the Reunion and wished her luck and strength.

Hopefully she will feel supported with an outpouring of love and good messages.

xo

Originally Posted by apretty

love this!

will you let us know if she responds? i'd love to be a part of sponsoring the couple! <3

Both great ideas. Count me in, please. I will say again, I think the Administraitors should be ready for some media attention at the Reunion. I just have a feeling, intutition if you will.

[Greyson]

Just a feeling Jack. Maybe my ideas about Little Rock? It is middle America. The "Gay Agenda" is very much on the radar of most media. Yes, it may be private property but how often does Little Rock get an LGBT event going on? Other then the local bar scene? If it is deemed a slow news day, why wouldn't media want to take a look at something that is not the everyday norm of Little Rock? With trepidation, I say "I have a feeling."

Here is another way to look at it. If the event did draw media attention, be ready, prepared to take control of it and take any of the sensationalism out of it. Present in a very matter of fact way, with intelligence, grace, ecetera. Do not allow "haters" to paint the community as abnormal, ignorant, evil, without humanity. Most of us here have straight parents, pay taxes, participate in many things that are not deemed to be part of the "gay agenda."

P.S. "Private" is pretty much non existent in today's world.

[Medusa]

YAY! I get to spout off about Arkansas!

I guess that unless you actually live here it's hard to see past the stereotypical "redneck" or "gay un-friendly" image. (Not talking directly to you here Greyson, just for the general masses)

A few factoids to help get the Queer-friendlyness of Arkansas into perspective:

* The little boy who refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance until Gays have equal rights and who was recently featured on CNN is from the Westfork School district here in Arkansas.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sh...e-equal-rights

* The Miss Gay Arkansas pageant is 38 years strong.
http://www.missgayarkansas.com/ (and has been hosted at the Peabody Hotel, I might add)

* The Miss Gay America pageant was owned by an Arkansan (Norma Kristie) for almost 30 years. I think she bought it in 1975?

* Diversity Pride Events is one of the largest Pride events in the South, held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
http://www.diversitypride.com/

* Little Rock has been hosting its own city-wide Pride events for multiple years and are WELL attended
http://www.littlerockcapitalpride.org/site/

* The Center for Artistic Revolution is a HUGE Queer-run 501c3 organization that does anti-oppression work all over Arkansas. It's director is a Queer Woman (who I believe is also a member of this site)
http://www.artisticrevolution.org/contents/index.php

* There are multiple Gay/Lesbian clubs all over Little Rock:
Here are a few:
Club UBU http://www.theaquarium.bizland.com/
Discovery Night Club (the oldest and largest in Arkansas and owned by Norma Kristie, former Miss Gay America 1973) http://www.latenightdisco.com/
Backstreet Club http://www.backstreetdanceclub.com/
(There are actually 7 total GLBT-only clubs in the metro Little Rock area)

* The Diamond State Rodeo Association is a GLBTQ organization for Gay and Lesbian cowboys and cowgirls, folks who do rodeo pageants, and they host multiple social events.
http://www.dsra.org/


* Multiple Gay and Lesbian churches.
Here is one with a specifically Gay membership:
http://littlerock.about.com/gi/o.htm...urc/index.html

* Openly Gay House of Representative, Kathy Webb:
http://www.victoryfund.org/endorsed_.../candidate:116

* Multiple support groups for Trans folks:
http://ar-tg-support.org/


I could list the multiple openly gay-owned and operated businesses that fly Pride flags year-round but I'd be here all night.

I just want folks to realize that there will be an element of homophobia in EVERY city. Hell, I experienced a great deal of it living in Los Angeles and Atlanta and I bet that most folks would consider them incredibly gay friendly. Arkansas is in the South, for sure, but being a Southern city doesn't equal "podunk" or "redneck" or any of the other number of ignorant things I have heard folks say.
It's a smallish cosmopolitan city
I highly doubt we would be on the news unless someone called it in. (I don't intend to)
The Miss Gay Arkansas pageant hasn't ever made the news here (to my recollection) and the only time a Gay Pride event made the news in a negative light was when the first Pride parade was held in Conway, Arkansas (where yours truly was the Grand Princess) and some dumbass spread horse manure on the parade route the night before.
I will also add that they found out who dumped manure on the route and prosecuted it as a hate crime.

No city is perfect, but both Jack and I feel incredibly safe here. We hold hands walking down the street and have never thought twice about giving each other a kiss in public. People pretty much mind their own business.

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by Medusa

YAY! I get to spout off about Arkansas!

I guess that unless you actually live here it's hard to see past the stereotypical "redneck" or "gay un-friendly" image. (Not talking directly to you here Greyson, just for the general masses)

A few factoids to help get the Queer-friendlyness of Arkansas into perspective:

* The little boy who refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance until Gays have equal rights and who was recently featured on CNN is from the Westfork School district here in Arkansas.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sh...e-equal-rights

* The Miss Gay Arkansas pageant is 38 years strong.
http://www.missgayarkansas.com/ (and has been hosted at the Peabody Hotel, I might add)

* The Miss Gay America pageant was owned by an Arkansan (Norma Kristie) for almost 30 years. I think she bought it in 1975?

* Diversity Pride Events is one of the largest Pride events in the South, held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
http://www.diversitypride.com/

* Little Rock has been hosting its own city-wide Pride events for multiple years and are WELL attended
http://www.littlerockcapitalpride.org/site/

* The Center for Artistic Revolution is a HUGE Queer-run 501c3 organization that does anti-oppression work all over Arkansas. It's director is a Butch (who I believe is also a member of this site)
http://www.artisticrevolution.org/contents/index.php

* There are multiple Gay/Lesbian clubs all over Little Rock:
Here are a few:
Club UBU http://www.theaquarium.bizland.com/
Discovery Night Club (the oldest and largest in Arkansas and owned by Norma Kristie, former Miss Gay America 1973) http://www.latenightdisco.com/
Backstreet Club http://www.backstreetdanceclub.com/
(There are actually 7 total GLBT-only clubs in the metro Little Rock area)

* The Diamond State Rodeo Association is a GLBTQ organization for Gay and Lesbian cowboys and cowgirls, folks who do rodeo pageants, and they host multiple social events.
http://www.dsra.org/


* Multiple Gay and Lesbian churches.
Here is one with a specifically Gay membership:
http://littlerock.about.com/gi/o.htm...urc/index.html

* Openly Gay House of Representative, Kathy Webb:
http://www.victoryfund.org/endorsed_.../candidate:116

* Multiple support groups for Trans folks:
http://ar-tg-support.org/


I could list the multiple openly gay-owned and operated businesses that fly Pride flags year-round but I'd be here all night.

I just want folks to realize that there will be an element of homophobia in EVERY city. Hell, I experienced a great deal of it living in Los Angeles and Atlanta and I bet that most folks would consider them incredibly gay friendly. Arkansas is in the South, for sure, but being a Southern city doesn't equal "podunk" or "redneck" or any of the other number of ignorant things I have heard folks say.
It's a smallish cosmopolitan city
I highly doubt we would be on the news unless someone called it in. (I don't intend to)
The Miss Gay Arkansas pageant hasn't ever made the news here (to my recollection) and the only time a Gay Pride event made the news in a negative light was when the first Pride parade was held in Conway, Arkansas (where yours truly was the Grand Princess) and some dumbass spread horse manure on the parade route the night before.
I will also add that they found out who dumped manure on the route and prosecuted it as a hate crime.

No city is perfect, but both Jack and I feel incredibly safe here. We hold hands walking down the street and have never thought twice about giving each other a kiss in public. People pretty much mind their own business.

Thanks Medusa. I'm glad to see that maybe some of my ideas, concerns are out dated. I have never been to Little Rock, and I do support doing Queer events in cities and towns that may not be immediately seen as tolerant.

As for feeling safe, I don't feel safe much of the time but that is not necessarily about geographical location. I think living most of my life as an obvious gender non-conforming Butch, I am perhaps too vigilant.

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by Greyson

Thanks Medusa. I'm glad to see that maybe some of my ideas, concerns are out dated. I have never been to Little Rock, and I do support doing Queer events in cities and towns that may not be immediately seen as tolerant.

As for feeling safe, I don't feel safe much of the time but that is not necessarily about geographical location. I think living most of my life as an obvious gender non-conforming Butch, I am perhaps too vigilant.

We'll see what you think
The downtown Little Rock area is really cosmo and has lots of shops, food, and entertainment for every taste. I think folks are going to be surprised

[Greyson]

"The Miss Gay Arkansas pageant hasn't ever made the news here (to my recollection) and the only time a Gay Pride event made the news in a negative light was when the first Pride parade was held in Conway, Arkansas (where yours truly was the Grand Princess) and some dumbass spread horse manure on the parade route the night before.
I will also add that they found out who dumped manure on the route and prosecuted it as a hate crime."

You were the Grand Princess of the Pride Parade? Fabulous! I want pictures. Please post some of your pics from this in the gallery.

I have a pic somewhere from about 25 years ago wearing white shorts, one of those shirts with the alligator insignia wearing the starched shirt collar up, sunglasses and riding the float from the LGBT Center in Los Angeles. Hmm, maybe this should be in an 80s thread?

[Medusa]

[quote=Greyson;65129][QUOTE=Medusa;65092]The Miss Gay Arkansas pageant hasn't ever made the news here (to my recollection) and the only time a Gay Pride event made the news in a negative light was when the first Pride parade was held in Conway, Arkansas (where yours truly was the Grand Princess) and some dumbass spread horse manure on the parade route the night before.
I will also add that they found out who dumped manure on the route and prosecuted it as a hate crime.

You were the Grand Princess of the Pride Parade? Fabulous! I want pictures. Please post some of your pics from this in the gallery.

I have a pic somewhere from about 25 years ago wearing white shorts, one of those shirts with the alligator insignia wearing the starched shirt collar up, sunglasses and riding the float from the LGBT Center in Los Angeles. Hmm, maybe this should be in an 80s thread?

I can only post pics if there is a thread entitled "Things I will never wear again" (ohhhh, that "Good n' Plenty" skirt was SUCH a bad idea!)

[Soon]

I'm really upset by this story!

This is a public school?


------------------------------
Here's a famous case in Ontario, Canada that made headlines (2002)--in a Catholic school, no less...and justice won.

Excerpt:

Decision: On May 10, Justice Robert McKinnon granted an interlocutory injunction ordering that Hall be allowed to attend the prom with Dumond. The justice also ordered that the school not cancel the prom. He did not decide on the larger issues raised by the case, leaving those to be heard at a later trial. Hall attended the Prom with Dumond that evening. In 2005, Marc Hall dropped the case.

The Hall case in film

Director Larry Peloso created a one-hour documentary on the case entitled Prom Fight: The Marc Hall Story. An unrelated television movie, Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story, aired on CTV in 2004 with Aaron Ashmore starring as Hall.
Hall also appeared in the Queer as Folk season 2 finale as a party guest during the Rage party at Babylon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Ha...c_School_Board

[key]

Lesbian panic shuts down Mississippi high-school prom

That is the headline to this news story. Lesbian Panic???!!!

Geeezus, what has happened to our country? And why are we standing around letting the Christian Taliban define and rule us?

I am so pissed about this.

[Soon]

ACLU DEMANDS MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL ALLOW LESBIAN STUDENT TO ATTEND PROM WITH GIRLFRIEND

For Immediate Release
March 2, 2010

CONTACT:
Brent Cox, ACLU of Mississippi, 601-502-5520, bcox@aclu-ms.org
Chris Hampton, ACLU LGBT Project, 212-549-2673, champton@aclu.org

FULTON, MS - The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition today demanded that Itawamba County School District officials reverse their decision to forbid a lesbian student from attending prom with her girlfriend and from wearing a tuxedo to the prom. Constance McMillen, a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School, said that school officials told her that she could not arrive at the prom with her girlfriend, also a student at IAHS, and that they might be thrown out if any other students complained about their presence.

"Prom is one of those high school moments everyone should get to experience and enjoy. I didn't go to prom last year, so this is my only chance to go," said McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at the school in Fulton, a small town of about 3,900 in the northeastern corner of Mississippi. "We just want to be able to be ourselves at our own prom."

McMillen said she approached school officials shortly before a memo about prom was circulated at school on February 5 that said same-sex dates would not be allowed, because she knew same-sex dates had been banned from prom in the past. McMillen met with the assistant principal and later the superintendent, who told her that they would not be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom, and that she and her girlfriend might be thrown out if their presence made any other students "uncomfortable" at the April 2 event.

"Prom is supposed to be about all students being able to express themselves, have fun, and make memories that will last the rest of their lives," said Kristy Bennett, Legal Director of the ACLU of Mississippi. "Constance has a constitutional right to take the person she's dating to the prom, just like any other student at any other public school."

In today's letter to Itawamba County School District officials, the ACLU cited federal court cases guaranteeing students' First Amendment right to bring same-sex dates to school dances, and also pointed out that treating McMillen and other lesbian, gay, and bisexual students differently from other students violates the Constitution's equal protection guarantees. In addition to illegally barring McMillen and her girlfriend from attending the prom together, the ACLU said that the school further violated McMillen's free expression rights by telling her that she can't wear a tuxedo to the prom.

"We hope that informing the school about its legal obligations towards its students will make it think twice about treating Constance and her girlfriend any differently than it does any other student couple who wants to go to the prom," said Christine P. Sun, Senior Counsel with the ACLU national Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project, who represents McMillen along with the ACLU of Mississippi. "Schools that discriminate against lesbian, gay, and bisexual students who want to bring same-sex dates to school dances need to know that by doing so they're violating established federal law, and we will call them on it."

The ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition have given the school district until March 10, 2010 to respond to their letter.
Additional information, including a copy of the school's prom memo and the ACLU's demand letter, is available at http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/fult...discrimination.

The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition was formed in the fall of 2008 to address discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, or students perceived to be LGBT, in Mississippi public schools and colleges. The MSSC works closely with the ACLU of Mississippi to educate teachers, students, and administrators about the rights of LGBT students with the aim of making schools safer for all. The MSSC is youth-led, and any questions about student rights at prom, starting a gay-straight alliance club, or any other safe schools issues can be directed to Ashley Jackson, facilitator, at ashley@mssafeschools.org.

[Soon]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvw85EGSpgg&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- [HW 031210] Help Constance Go To Her Prom[/ame]

[Rufusboi]

THere was an article in the paper about this today, too. I really liked her father's advice to her. He told her to keep her head up and face her teachers and classmates. SHe wanted to stay home from school the day after the ruling. He told her to show them she is proud of who she is. I'm just happy she has supportive parents that stand by her and keep her strong. It just really makes this school board look bad and backward. But if this ruling makes her strong and keeps her fighting then it is worth it.

Rufus

[Soon]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kafNkX1At8&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Teen Sues District for Discrimination[/ame]

[afixer]

good for her.

[Queerasfck]

Last night on the Wanda Sykes Show Constance McMillen was a guest. Constance was asked by Wanda Sykes to be her presenter at GLAAD Awards in April which is being held in Los Angeles. Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by EzeeTiger

Last night on the Wanda Sykes Show Constance McMillen was a guest. Constance was asked by Wanda Sykes to be her presenter at GLAAD Awards in April which is being held in Los Angeles. Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM0e03w4PhQ"]YouTube- Wanda Sykes Show Se 1 Episode 16 ( 03/13/2010 ) PART 5 Bill Maher, Lisa Kudrow, Suze Orman[/ame]