School Cancels Prom Over Lesbian Date

ACLU told Miss. school to let student bring girlfriend
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 11, 2010 4:37 AM CST
Updated Mar 11, 2010 6:00 AM CST
School Cancels Prom Over Lesbian Date
This photo released by the ACLU of Mississippi shows Constance McMillen, 18, a student at the Itawamba County Agricultural High School.    (AP Photo/The McMillen Family via The ACLU of Mississippi)

Mississippi's Itawamba County School District has decided it would rather cancel an entire high school prom than host one where a lesbian student can wear a tuxedo and bring a female date. The district announced the prom was off after the ACLU pressured it to change its policy and allow Constance McMillen, 18, to bring her girlfriend, a fellow student, to the dance.

McMillen says she believes the decision to cancel the prom is the district's revenge for her standing up for her rights. "The message they are sending is that if they have to let gay people go to prom than they are not going to have one," she told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this, so it's really retaliation." (More Mississippi stories.)

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