School cancels prom rather than allow gay teens to attend

[Pappa]

Well, they had to cancel it, obviously. If they hadn't God would have destroyed the entire school and killed everyone in it for allowing two lesbians to desecrate the proceedings. They were doing the only moral thing they could to protect all those innocent kids from God's wrath.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

These are the places that used to demand that girls who got married had to leave high school as it was common knowledge they were having sex and it would be a bad influence on the other girls. (When I heard about that policy in Indiana I had to ask if the "sweet innocent" girls weren't living with their mothers?)

Their goes your darn logic again! That stuffs can’t penetrate their “faith” filled skulls. Their invisible sky daddy protects them from your evil reason and logic! Stuff made by the devil - you know!

My sister, who is as hard-headed (bloody-minded) as I am was the first female to complete high school there while pregnant. She refused to leave when they told her she had to. (This was in 1975, FFS.)

[hadespussercats]

This reminds me of my High school ( 17 years ago-- ouch) that told two girls who wanted to be able to go to prom, but didn't want to have to bring boys (straight girls, but choosy about companionship) that they couldn't go together unless they signed an official (or seeming official-- not sure what my HS had in mind) an official document, saying they were attending the prom together because they were gay ( They weren't.)

What was my school getting at? On one hand, warning us all about how drunken prom-night shenanigans could lead to STDs and pregnancy, but then not allowing two people to go unless they were willing to prove their relationship wasn't platonic.

My conclusion? Proms are stupid. But I'm still glad I went to mine. So I'm sorry that other kids have to deal with even higher levels of prejudice and stupidity, after years of what one might have thought would bring greater tolerance and less assaholic-ness.

I hope the couple in question said "fuck prom!" and threw their own party.

[Valden]

What's also a problem is the girl is now going to face backlash from her peers while in school. they'll blame her for making it all a big deal and getting the dance canceled.
I would not want to be her.

[owtth]

How did the school know beforehand that she was bringing her girlfriend and wearing a tux? Do USians have to go through some sort of clearance before tickets are issued?
Anyway the kids should have their own damn party.

[Kristie]

How did the school know beforehand that she was bringing her girlfriend and wearing a tux? Do USians have to go through some sort of clearance before tickets are issued?
Anyway the kids should have their own damn party.

Not sure how they'd know about the tux, but when you buy tickets you have to give the name of your date. At my prom they made cute little seating cards for both people.

[Mr. Olaudah Equiano]

It's in Mississippi, what did you expect! They are 30 yrs behind the rest of the country.

Did you mean 130 years instead of 30?


Mississippi has the distinction of—among many other things—being the most reluctant state in the Union to outlaw the institution of slavery. After the Civil War they were the only state that refused to ratify the 13th Amendment because it included no provision to reimburse the slave owners for their liberated properties. Their state didn't get around to ratifying the 13th Amendment until March 13, 1995.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

...My conclusion? Proms are stupid...

Proms are an evil, evil american virus which is now infecting our shores.

Burn them! Burn them all!!!!!!!!!!

[maiforpeace]

What should happen is the gay community should sponsor an alternate prom, then invite all the students.

I can't remember where it happened, but I remember a story when a similar thing occurred years ago in the south when some parents and a school board refused to integrate a prom and canceled it. The rich white parents put on a private affair that was white only. The black community put on a prom and invited everyone to attend.

Needless to say the music at the prom put on by the black community was way better, and all the kids from the white private party ended up leaving their stuffy party to join the other one. The following year, they integrated the prom.

[Valden]

What should happen is the gay community should sponsor an alternate prom, then invite all the students.

Humanists Prepare to Hold LGBT-Inclusive Prom in Mississippi

(Washington, DC, March 12, 2010) The American Humanist Association (AHA) stepped forward today and offered to plan and fund a prom for the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi. The Itawamba County School District made headlines earlier this week by cancelling their prom rather than letting a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, bring her girlfriend as her date.

“It’s shameful that closed-minded members of the school board are prepared to deprive an entire class of students their prom over their outdated religious mores.” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the AHA. "People can hold to any belief or no belief in this nation, but the school board misuses their position when they try to impose their beliefs on the student population in Itawamba.”

Read more here...

[maiforpeace]

What should happen is the gay community should sponsor an alternate prom, then invite all the students.

Humanists Prepare to Hold LGBT-Inclusive Prom in Mississippi

(Washington, DC, March 12, 2010) The American Humanist Association (AHA) stepped forward today and offered to plan and fund a prom for the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi. The Itawamba County School District made headlines earlier this week by cancelling their prom rather than letting a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, bring her girlfriend as her date.

“It’s shameful that closed-minded members of the school board are prepared to deprive an entire class of students their prom over their outdated religious mores.” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the AHA. "People can hold to any belief or no belief in this nation, but the school board misuses their position when they try to impose their beliefs on the student population in Itawamba.”

Read more here...

Thanks for sharing! I'm so proud of, and honored to be a part of the Humanist community - rock on bros and sistas!

[AshtonBlack]

Good work!!!

[Millie]

What should happen is the gay community should sponsor an alternate prom, then invite all the students.

Humanists Prepare to Hold LGBT-Inclusive Prom in Mississippi

(Washington, DC, March 12, 2010) The American Humanist Association (AHA) stepped forward today and offered to plan and fund a prom for the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi. The Itawamba County School District made headlines earlier this week by cancelling their prom rather than letting a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, bring her girlfriend as her date.

“It’s shameful that closed-minded members of the school board are prepared to deprive an entire class of students their prom over their outdated religious mores.” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the AHA. "People can hold to any belief or no belief in this nation, but the school board misuses their position when they try to impose their beliefs on the student population in Itawamba.”

Read more here...

Thanks for sharing! I'm so proud of, and honored to be a part of the Humanist community - rock on bros and sistas!

Yes... Thanks for the up-date! That is a WONDERFUL thing. Hopefully the poor girl's peers may let up on her a bit now.

[mozg]

Thanks for sharing! I'm so proud of, and honored to be a part of the Humanist community - rock on bros and sistas!

I think the best part of this is that they're doing exactly what the administration said should happen - some private, non-governmental group should go ahead and host a prom.

Of course my bet is that the administration hoped it would be a church that hates t3h ghey as much as they do.

[Reverend Blair]

My guess is that this will be a much better prom than the one run by the regressive school board.