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I saw this article on the front page of yahoo and was absolutely outraged. It is basically about a school in miss that would not let a young woman attend prom with her girlfriend and wear a tux. After the ACLU got involved the school board decided to cancel prom all together.
Now while I have many gay friends and support gay rights, I am not an active advocate for them and am not gay myself, so I do not generally get up in arms over LGBT issues. This article has me fuming. Ignoring the fact that this school seems to be in clear violation of her human right, they are doing exactly the opposite of what their jobs are. These people are suppose to prepare students for the world and teach tolerance and life skills. The school board and principle did the exact opposite of this. Not only do they great disrespect this young woman's life choices they also put her at risk of retaliation by fellow students for the canceling of their prom.
I implore those with strong feelings about this event to take a few minutes and write the superintendent and principle stating your displeasure. I sent both a lengthy e-mail stating my disgust as an American and shame, and I am sure I am one of many. That article being only 3 hours old already has over 18k comments. This is the school districts website: www.itawambacountyschools.com/ and the high school's site: www.itawambaahs.com/. It just seems like the school district is totally letting down and stunting the students, while cultivating a culture of discrimination, it is suppose to serve and I find that very upsetting.
I'm with you on this, ziggy. I read the article this morning and was shaking before I finished it. People like this are so ignorant that it is literally beyond my comprehension. What are they afraid of???
The article has been updated to say that the young woman is back at school now. She said she didn't want to go back for fear for retaliation, but her father told her she needed to face them. Sounds like she's at least being taught tolerance and good manners at home. kudos to her parents!!
Post by pondo ROCKS on Mar 11, 2010 15:17:52 GMT -5
Kinda reminds me of something that happened in my hometown WAYYYYYYYYYYYY back in 1994. A good female friend of mine took her "date" which was a girl to prom. I heard about it for months afterward (I graduated in 92 and live in a pretty small town). She just showed up and did it and although there was probably a big fuss and a lot of whispers from the suits and the parents, prom still went on and the world did not end. Kids/students had a great time and that should have been the end of it right?
16 years later, this kinda stuff happens and you wonder is it really that bad to just let the girl go with another girl? Why did the school board decide to do the "our way or the highway" routine? What about freedom of expression? Did they EVER think about the torment that other students will put the "one" student through? Do they REALLY think if she went with a boy that her "sexuality" is gonna change?
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Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
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Post by ziggyandthemonkeys on Mar 11, 2010 15:30:08 GMT -5
Haha, wow, you're right^. Can still e-mail the principle. That's the biggest thing with me, by doing this you put the girl at risk of retaliation by fellow students. Any physical or mental harm the young woman experiences because of this is her SCHOOLS fault. That is just so ridiculous that a school would make a decision that puts one of their students at risk, the total opposite of what they are suppose to be doing.
I expect that with the huge backlash of this combined with the ACLU there will be a prom and she will be attending. I'm sure it will be uncomfortable if it does happen, but it seems she wants to make a point now, which is great for her, it is valid.
Post by pondo ROCKS on Mar 11, 2010 15:41:59 GMT -5
so I emailed the school and set up a link for my friends to do the same. Ziggy, you have become one of my faves up here by your willingness to speak out about this mate...+1 for you my friend!
Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
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I have to say that I will stay out of this one. I don't condone what the school did by any means but I can also say that the schools are not obligated to hold, fund or schedule a prom. aka Footloose.
Mississippi is the bible belt. Constance's case is not the first that the ACLU has gotten hold of - last year there was another lesbian student at another school in Mississippi who was not in her yearbook for her Senior year because she chose to have her Senior pictures taken in a tux rather than the traditional drape used for females.
Their authority is grounded in and asserted through religion, politics, "family values," age, gender, sexuality, race and anything else they can use to control other people. If people question the foundations of these control mechanisms, the stability of the entire system is threatened, mainly because there is no real foundation there beyond "because I (or god or whoever) said so." When your entire world is an orderly hierarchy with you at the top, it's probably pretty scary when people stop believing in it.
I have to say that I will stay out of this one. I don't condone what the school did by any means but I can also say that the schools are not obligated to hold, fund or schedule a prom. aka Footloose.
That I can agree with... the school isn't obligated to hold any sort of extra curricular event. What bothers me is how the school suddenly decided they would rather cancel this event after this issue came to light. I wonder what would have happened if she hadn't asked and just showed up with her girlfriend wearing a tux?
Their authority is grounded in and asserted through religion, politics, "family values," age, gender, sexuality, race and anything else they can use to control other people. If people question the foundations of these control mechanisms, the stability of the entire system is threatened, mainly because there is no real foundation there beyond "because I (or god or whoever) said so." When your entire world is an orderly hierarchy with you at the top, it's probably pretty scary when people stop believing in it.
I completely agree! And it completely frustrates me.
I wonder what would have happened if she hadn't asked and just showed up with her girlfriend wearing a tux?
I wonder the same thing. I mean we're in a period of gross overreaction by schools to insubordination. Children are getting arrested for drawing on desks, so who knows. I'm just glad that she was responsible enough to attempt to get appropriate authorization and let the school make themselves look bad.
Post by insidejoke on Mar 11, 2010 16:31:01 GMT -5
For every step forward...
...we take two steps back.
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."
_______________________________________
I hate to equate an ice cream flavor with this story, but Vermont's recognition of same sex marriage was pivotal in the mainstream acceptance of the GLBT community. Constance's story illustrates the loooong way we have to go before everyone in this country has equal opportunity for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
I wonder what would have happened if she hadn't asked and just showed up with her girlfriend wearing a tux?
I wonder the same thing. I mean we're in a period of gross overreaction by schools to insubordination. Children are getting arrested for drawing on desks, so who knows. I'm just glad that she was responsible enough to attempt to get appropriate authorization and let the school make themselves look bad.
Oh my - go against authority that way - nope - not here - LOL
You would not believe what the kids have to go through just to bring a date that does not go to the same school
They have to get a form from the school where the event is being held - it has to be signed by both students - ALL parents - yup - mom/dad of both students (isn't that a fun hoop to jump through at times) AND signed by the principal of the student who attends a different school.
This is so incredibly awful. I can't believe that in this day and age, there are government-run programs that condone such bigotry. If nothing else, though, at least it will raise awareness about this issue (and gay rights in general) by being prominently displayed on such a heavily trafficked website. But really, talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. "Well, we don't want gays and lesbians at prom, but we can't outright ban them from going.... let's just cancel the whole thing instead". It's just utterly despicable, not to mention that it's also a complete violation of the separation of church and state. At least the school is getting some very negative publicity as a result (but since it's not a business, I doubt the negative publicity will have any real impact on the school).
^^6Jack - they have cancelled dances down here for much smaller things then this.
again - this is the bible belt - no drinking and - oh no - heaven forbid - in some smaller communities - NO dancing and none of that rock and roll music
seriously - it still goes on - no different than Footloose. There are schhols that do not have dances because that might lead to the kids fornicating and all sorts of other evils.
therefore, those same schools just plain do not have proms. And should I even start in of the private proms that are put on by different parent groups because they don't want the white kids interacting with black kids??? Yup - that still happens also
BUT - the black parents do it too - they hold their own proms for their kids that white kids are not invited to attend. It goes both ways in the South
Sorry to break it to you guys, but dressing how you want at a school isn't a human rights issue. Maybe I feel differently because I went to a school with uniforms, but the drama over a lesbian who wants to dress like a man getting denied her right to seems like an extremely retarded issue to get upset about.
Did the school overreact? Of course. It is the nature of high schools to overreact to high school students who are hormone driven drama kings and queens who think really dumb smurfing nuts is worth life and death struggles. But really, is this about a school oppressing someone because of their sexuality or is it a school oppressing the way someone chooses to express their sexuality? And is it really oppression or more just bumbled backward political correctness from the right? Canceling prom seems to indicate this was more than just being about her.
Last Edit: Mar 11, 2010 17:34:54 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Just another thing that makes me think "What is this world coming to?!"
The world isn't coming to anything. The world is like this already.
I honestly have no problem with someone taking their girlfriend or boyfriend to the prom if they are gay. I'm not gay but have a few gay relatives. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be able to get married either.
Sorry to break it to you guys, but dressing how you want at a school isn't a human rights issue. Maybe I feel differently because I went to a school with uniforms, but the drama over a lesbian who wants to dress like a man getting denied her right to seems like an extremely retarded issue to get upset about.
Did the school overreact? Of course. It is the nature of high schools to overreact to high school students who are hormone driven drama kings and queens who think really dumb smurfing nuts is worth life and death struggles. But really, is this about a school oppressing someone because of their sexuality or is it a school oppressing the way someone chooses to express their sexuality? And is it really oppression or more just bumbled backward political correctness from the right? Canceling prom seems to indicate this was more than just being about her.
The issue isn't just about her wanting to dress in a tux... I don't think we'd be this upset if it was just that. The school has a policy that says your prom date must be someone of the opposite sex. She asked if she could bring her girlfriend and the school told her no.
Post by nitetimeritetime on Mar 11, 2010 17:50:09 GMT -5
The school absolutely did cancel the prom because this couple is gay. Hopefully you just didn't read the articles about this, dudezer, because it's sickening to think someone here would be knowingly covering for this bigotry.
Sorry to break it to you guys, but dressing how you want at a school isn't a human rights issue. Maybe I feel differently because I went to a school with uniforms, but the drama over a lesbian who wants to dress like a man getting denied her right to seems like an extremely retarded issue to get upset about.
Did the school overreact? Of course. It is the nature of high schools to overreact to high school students who are hormone driven drama kings and queens who think really dumb smurfing nuts is worth life and death struggles. But really, is this about a school oppressing someone because of their sexuality or is it a school oppressing the way someone chooses to express their sexuality? And is it really oppression or more just bumbled backward political correctness from the right? Canceling prom seems to indicate this was more than just being about her.
The issue isn't just about her wanting to dress in a tux... I don't think we'd be this upset if it was just that. The school has a policy that says your prom date must be someone of the opposite sex. She asked if she could bring her girlfriend and the school told her no.
I disagree. It's all about her wearing the tux. Otherwise, I guarantee she goes with her girlfriend, no questions asked. By wearing the tux, she was forcing the hand of the administration by telegraphing her sexuality.
Look. I'm not saying don't agree with her. I'm just pointing out she's doing this to change policy. It's not an outrage for her. It's probably the intended response. You don't call up your principal and ask them if you can take your girlfriend AND cross dress just to make sure everyone knows its your girlfriend you're taking and not just a friend you're going stag with, without knowing you're going to have to force the hand of the school district.
The school absolutely did cancel the prom because this couple is gay. Hopefully you just didn't read the articles about this, dudezer, because it's sickening to think someone here would be knowingly covering for this bigotry.
Totally disagree dude. Look. I'm speaking from the experience of having grown up the kid of a school administrator.
Kids and parents of kids all think their crusade is worth burning the village down over, and it's usually not. I guarantee she could have gone about this in a less dramatic fashion and produced the same results. But she's a high schooler, and probably too naive to realize what bringing in the ACLU is going to do her community and her relationship with her classmates. Instead of rallying people to her cause and building consensus, she's gotten prom canceled and alienated herself further from her classmates. And she's a media darling now too. So yeah...don't cry for me Argentina.
Last Edit: Mar 11, 2010 17:55:41 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Yeah, it's just fine to be gay, as long as you stay in the closet.
You don't see anything wrong with that?
I'm a bit more pragmatic. I also think you're making large assumptions like she's a closeted lesbian or that the school administrators were bigots and unsympathetic. Policy is policy, and it's hard to unilaterally overturn it, even if you want to.
I also think there are smart ways to enact change and smurfing retarded ways to enact it, and this falls in the latter category. I also would also venture to suggest that given this story has gone national because of the ACLU, the side you're getting of the story is pretty one sided.
Last Edit: Mar 11, 2010 18:14:22 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
I'm a bit more pragmatic. I also think you're making large assumptions like she's a closeted lesbian or that the school administrators were bigots and unsympathetic. Policy is policy, and it's hard to unilaterally overturn it, even if you want to.
I'm not making any assumptions about her. I think it's pretty clear that she is not closeted, in fact. I was just reiterating your argument:
By wearing the tux, she was forcing the hand of the administration by telegraphing her sexuality...You don't call up your principal and ask them if you can take your girlfriend AND cross dress just to make sure everyone knows its your girlfriend you're taking and not just a friend you're going stag with, without knowing you're going to have to force the hand of the school district.
That translates into, "it's ok to be gay as long as you don't tell anybody." The result of that policy is the closeting of gays, and this girl refused to be institutionally closeted. Good for her! She should be proud to "force the hand" of these cowardly administrators. It's just too bad they decided to hide behind "policy" instead of doing the right thing. And sadly, when you say "policy is policy," you provide them cover and defend a bigoted rule. But hey, at least you're being pragmatic.
I also think there are smart ways to enact change and smurfing retarded ways to enact it, and this falls in the latter category. I also would also venture to suggest that given this story has gone national because of the ACLU, the side you're getting of the story is pretty one sided.
There's a rule that says couples at the prom must be of the opposite sex. This girl challenged the rule, so they called off the prom. They're not denying this.
It takes courage to put your ass on the line and fight oppressive institutional rules. This girl should be applauded, not called "retarded."
Policy is policy, and it's hard to unilaterally overturn it, even if you want to.
Job discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, sex, gender and sexual orientation has been outlawed by Executive Order in Virginia by the previous two Governors. The current Governor, Robert F. McDonnell, signed a similar Order, but omitted "sexual orientation," basically saying state employers *couldn't* ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. This point was argued by the state's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II.
Although most colleges were on spring break, significant protests against the Executive Order were quickly organized on state colleges. Sensing trouble, the Governor issued an Executive Directive saying job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation should be avoided. But, an Executive Directive lacks the power of an Executive Order, and is more like a suggestion.
It's shaping up to look like conservatives are going to use sexual orientation in the workplace as a wedge issue in the coming election.